Film theatre to move to Odeon

IPSWICH Film Theatre is to close in the Corn Exchange complex later this year, it was confirmed today.

The Borough Council is to take over one of the five screens at the town's Odeon cinema as a replacement.

The announcement came as part of the borough's cultural strategy for the next five years, which was unveiled by councillors today.

The closure of the Corn Exchange Film Theatre is bound to be the most controversial element of the strategy put forward by the new conservatives/liberal democrats' administration.

But the proposal to move to one of the Odeon's screens had first been put forward by the former labour administration before it lost power last year.

No exact date for the film theatre's closure has yet been decided, but culture spokeswoman Judy Terry said the changes would be brought in as soon as the final agreement was signed with the Odeon cinema.

Entertainment's Manager Billy Brennan said the council would be taking over a 200-seat screen at the Odeon, almost exactly the same size as the existing film theatre.

Ultimately he hoped it might be possible to take over a second screen at the Odeon – but that depended on long-term audience numbers.

He said moving to the Odeon would bring many advantages to cinema goers, and would also allow the halls in the Corn Exchange complex to be used more often.

At present it is difficult to stage concerts or other noisy events in the grand hall or Robert Cross hall when there is a film showing because of poor sound insulation in the Victorian building.

Among the other proposals in the culture strategy is the appointment of an arts development officer and plans for a new annual winter arts festival in the waterfront area during the run up to Christmas.

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