Secret Cinema’s latest project, the seductively named Secret Cinema, premiered in Brighton last month with a fantastic night of entertainment and immersion in the form of the 44th best comedy of all time, Ghostbusters.
On the last Friday of November I, along with 200 other intrigued punters all in hastily assembled ‘loud and proud’ 80s attire, turned up at the gates of the Brighton Museum, and stood around for a while wondering exactly what we had got ourselves into. There was the sudden realisation that we were in fact surrounded by actors, and then everything seemed to happen very quickly. NYPD police officers emerged from the shadows urging us to “keep calm” and “don’t panic” while the ‘keymaster’ and ‘gatekeeper’ ran amok around a huddle of doom saying placard bearing students. As we were lead off by a mounted officer, the Ghostbusters car pulled up and out stepped our 4 favourite parapsychologists-turned-ghost exterminators to frenzied cheering.
The interior of the Corn Exchange had been turned upside down to recreate well known scenes from the movie, including Janine’s reception and more importantly, the Sedgwick hotel itself – bustling porters, room keys and the lavish ballroom complete with dinner tables and jazz band, where the screening took place. Every actor encountered was so intensely keen on talking to the audience members individually and getting them involved that looking around, most of the people seemed to have ear to ear grins on their faces, such was the fascination and novelty of the experience. The interest was maintained throughout, Peter Venkman introducing the film itself while we munched our free popcorn and punched the air and sang along to Ray Parker Jr’s infamous theme song.
The amazing feeling wasn’t lost upon leaving our seats as the credits rolled – the cast continued to dance the night away at the bar as we drifted out into the cold. I can honestly say I haven’t enjoyed myself on a night out in quite a long time, and would happily pay for that experience every month given the chance.
Secret Cinema is truly the Kinder Egg of the bad analogy sweet shop – you part ways with your hard earned cash (£12.50 for students) with no idea what you’ll be seeing and where the venue is. All you need is the ability to embrace a bit of spontaneity and a sense of adventure and you won’t be disappointed.