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Tram passing the Empire in 1948 - Image courtesy of cottontown.org
Go to the Heritage Lottery Fund website
Copyright 2009 Thwaites Empire Theatre Aqueduct Road Ewood Blackburn BB2 4HT 01254 685 500
Centenary Gala Dinner
in aid of EMPIRE100 Raise the Roof Appeal

Blackburn Rover FC, Ewood Park
Saturday 6 March 2010

A Black Tie and Posh Frocks Centenary Gala Dinner at Ewood Park. After a Cranberry Bucks Fizz reception and sumptuous three course dinner there will be an auction of our reserved ‘gold cabinet gifts’, by Michael Berry.  We’ll be announcing the total sum raised in this Centenary Gifts Auction and dancing the night away until 1am.
Tickets:  £30

 Details contact Event Organiser Zoe Oakley, 07930 640418
Mitchell & Kenyon Cinema Celebration
Wednesday 17 March 2010

For around seventy years, 800 rolls of early nitrate film sat in sealed barrels in the basement of a shop in Mill Hill, Blackburn.  Now miraculously rediscovered and restored, the Mitchell & Kenyon Collection is an amazing visual record of everyday life in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century.  
These showings will be accompanied by live narration by Dr Vanessa Toulmin, Research Director of the National Fairground Archive at Sheffield University and accompanied by silent film pianist, Stephen Horne.

Presentations:
10am  Schools Free Performance -  tickets must be booked in advance

2pm    Schools Free Performance - tickets must be booked in advance
 (also Monday Club members @ £2.50)

7.30pm Public Performance   tickets £7 (£6 in balcony)

Supported by
People & Picture Houses
Centenary Guided Walks  with Living Streets
 & Blackburn Civic Society
10.30am  Fridays
9th April, 7th May, 4th June, 2nd July,
 6th August, 3rd September, 29th October 2010

Discover  the secrets of the community who lived and worked around the Empire on a walking route that takes in places where people worked and played during the last century.  Wheelchair & Pushchair Accessible.    Come to one of our guided walks or pick up a copy and walk the walk yourself.

(Duration 90 minutes)
FREE:  For more details contact Bernard Kennedy,
Living Streets on 07590 048494
Blackburn Civic Society
Centenary Backstage Talks and Tours

 Join Michael Berry on a backstage tour of the Thwaites Empire Theatre, see behind the scenes and find out how the venue has survived the ups and downs of the past 100 years since its early beginnings as one of the country’s first Electric Cinemas.   
Suitable for Groups and School Parties.

To book a tour contact the theatre on 01254 685500



2010 – A Community Celebration of 100 years of Cinema and Theatre at the Empire at Ewood
June 2010

 In June 2010 we will be staging an exciting community performance written and directed by professional theatre producer, Tim Lince of Pendle Productions.   
The piece will be created from the work being done by history researchers  to pull together the history of the venue.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery, the multi-media piece will  tell the story of the history of the Empire in song, dance, theatre, film and audio - against the backdrop of popular culture, historical events and everyday life in Blackburn over the past century.






Centenary Thanksgiving Songs of Praise Service
Sunday 12 September 2010, 7.30pm

 An opportunity to give thanks for everything the Empire has given to the lives of local people, the joy of friendship and community and the talents that we share.  
An ecumenical act of Christian worship featuring Bible readings, multi-media images, solo performances and hymns accompanied by Blackburn & Darwen Brass Band.  Led by Rev Yvonne Pearson
Tickets:  discretionary donation to EMPIRE100 Raise the Roof Appeal (must be booked in advance)