Very many thanks to those of you who attended the matinee and evening performances of ‘Emma’ last month – we ‘sold’ 25 tickets in all and were pleased overall with how things went.  Obviously the situation was far from ideal, with obligatory face coverings, social interaction not permitted outside individual groups of ticket-holders and lack of refreshments.  However, the feedback from our audience has been very appreciative and we are happy to continue as long as the village hall remains open and Covid regulations still allow us to. 

Our ‘Best of British’ season continues on Monday 2nd November with the triple-Oscar-winning ‘1917‘ (cert. 15, 119 mins), directed by Sam Mendes (Spectre, Skyfall, American Beauty) and starring George Mackay (Captain Fantastic, Pride) and Dean-Charles Chapman (Game of Thrones) as WW1 soldiers assigned a perilous mission to deliver a message across enemy lines in order to avert a massacre.  Strong support from a host of British thesp royalty (Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Scott, Colin Firth, Daniel Mays, Mark Strong, Richard Madden).  The real plaudits however go to Roger Deakins’ stunning cinematography (his Oscar win was his second in three years, after Blade Runner 2049 in 2018). Some strong language and violent scenes, but it is a war film, after all.  It really is a cinematic triumph and not to be missed.

Sorry we can’t do free tickets like last month, but we’re pegging them at £5 at least for the Covid duration.  Like last month, they will be available in advance only.

Tickets and Seating

In order to accommodate as many of you as we can while ensuring that we comply with government guidelines on social distancing, there will be two screenings on Monday 2nd November, at 4.45pm (doors 4.30pm) and 7.45pm (doors 7.30pm – please note the slight change to start times).

There will be allocated seating, with appropriate social distancing between each group of ticket-holders and with no more than six people permitted in a group.  Tickets for both screenings will be allocated in order of request received.

Please send your request for tickets to me at csma95@gmail.com or text/WhatsApp/leave a message on 07753 603219 stating:

a) How many tickets you would like (max 6)

b) Your name and phone number and that of each member of your group (needed for Covid-19 Track and Trace purposes and kept for 21 days only)

c) The performance you’d like to attend (matinee or evening or no preference)

d) Where you’d like to sit (front, middle, back or no preference)

Tickets will only be available by this method and will not be available either at the village shop or on the door.  Please ensure that you sit in the seats allocated for your group.

Please pay £5 in cash for each ticket on the door when you arrive (exact money, please) – we are not yet able to provide contactless/online payment.

On Arrival

Please wait outside the entrance door until the foyer is clear. Please put on your mask/face covering before entering the foyer (unless medically exempt).

Once in the foyer, please wait until the front desk is clear before entering the hall.  Please use the hand sanitiser provided and, if you have the NHS Covid-19 app on your phone, check into the venue using the QR code provided.

At the front desk, confirm the names of your party and seat numbers, pay £5 (cash only) for each ticket you have requested and then proceed directly to your seats, following the signage.  Please try to avoid congregating at the back of the hall between the front desk and the seating, as you may impede access to seating for those behind you.

Unfortunately we are not currently offering refreshments – please feel free to bring your own.

During the Performance

Unless you need to use the toilets during the performance, please remain in your seats once you have found them, in order to maintain social distancing.

If you need to use the toilets, please follow the signage.

Please keep your mask/face covering on at all times while inside the hall, other than for consuming food/drinks at your seat.

After the Film

At the end of the film, you will be asked to leave the hall by the Fire Exit (on the right-hand side of the auditorium as you look at the screen), one row at a time, starting from the front.  Please wait until the row in front of you has departed before leaving your seat.  Kind offers to assist with clearing up/stacking up chairs, etc. will be politely refused, as we need to carry out enhanced anti-Covid cleaning procedures (we appreciate the thought, though).

Seating and high traffic areas will be sanitised before and after each performance.

Please take any rubbish you have home with you or leave it under your seat.

If you are showing Covid-19 symptoms or have been advised/ordered to self-isolate, please do not attend.  

Let me know if you have any questions about how the screenings will work or any other concerns.  Thank you in advance for your understanding of the restrictive measures outlined above – hopefully they are temporary!  The Friends of Hawkchurch Film Nights e-mail group receives regular updates on what’s happening – if you’re not on the mailing list and would like to be, let me know, as this is where you’ll find out first if the screening is affected by changes to Covid-19 regulations between now and screening time.

We hope to see you on 2nd November.

Best wishes from Penny, Jacky, Paul and me

Chris Andrews