World’s smallest solar powered movie theatre
PRESS RELEASE
January 21 2021
Swansea's performers fear loss of another entire season following the announcement of Glastonbury cancellation.
The award-winning mobile film theatre, Sol Cinema is based in Swansea.
Following today’s announcement of the cancellation of Glastonbury festival due to COVID, the performers now fear that their entire work will be once again wiped out for another year.
Booked to perform at Glastonbury festival and many other events in 2020, the Sol Cinema had to lie dormant all year. Today's’s news is a terrible blow, and they now fear that their 2021 season will also be wiped out with a total loss of income.
The Sol Cinema marked it’s 10th anniversary this year, but no celebrations were to had due to COVID.
Since 2010, the diminutive cinema has entertained more than 80,000 people at music and film festivals or community events in Britain and the E.U
Co-founder and Sol Cinema projectionist Paul O’Connor stated;
‘Sol Cinema has performed in fields, factories, schools, city centres, on a farm and even in a Zoo. Being mobile, we can squeeze into the smallest spots and entertain with short films and our smartly dressed experienced street performers. COVID devastated all events and festivals last year, and now we have to be realistic and accept that 2021 will be the same. Brexit has also made it much more difficult to tour the EU for us. The increased paperwork and finance has resulted in not being able to tour European events too.’
The Sol Cinema has created from a 1972 caravan which was being used to house chickens on a small holding. Artist Jo Furlong added plush seating, LED lighting and a projector combined with surround sound to create the unique mobile venue. To boost its environmental credentials further the cinema is powered entirely by solar energy. Power is stored in a bank of Solar Panels from 120W panel.
The Sol Cinema won a Digital Hero award for best use of sustainable technology in 2014. It also won a Network Wales award for best communication project in 2010.
END NOTES TO EDITORS:
To arrange interviews contact; Paul O’Connor 07973 298359
E: [email protected]
W: www.thesolcinema.org
Photographs available : thesolcinema.org/press