Cinema Screen to be Officially Launched at St Mary’s

A brand new state-of-the art cinema screen has been recently installed at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, not only enhancing the student learning experience but also offering an additional facility to members of the local community. Named the Pete Postlethwaite Picture House, after the late actor and former St Mary’s student, the screen will be officially opened during a celebratory launch evening later this month. Pete Postlethwaite graduated from St Mary’s in 1968 and he subsequently received an honorary fellowship from St Mary’s in 1998. In honour of Pete’s achievements, the launch event will include a screening of In the Name of the Father, that features one of the actor’s most notable performances playing Daniel Day-Lewis’s father. Since installation, the cinema has already enabled a number of partnerships between the University College and local organisations. The Richmond Film Society now holds its fortnightly film screenings on campus, and a recent Gothic film series was hosted by St Mary’s in conjunction with neighbouring Strawberry Hill House. Head of St Mary’s School of Communication, Culture and Creative Arts Prof Lance Pettitt commented, “We are delighted that we have been able to install this new cinema screen. It supports the learning experience for film and media arts students, who will now be able to view high definition video content during lectures, and it is a great asset for the local community.” Professor Pettitt went on to say that the Richmond Film Society and the Gothic film series had both proved to be very popular, with members of the public keen to watch classic films right on their doorstep. He continued, "We hope to continue to build on these relationships to offer even more public film screenings in the future.” He also noted the appointment of Professor Charles Barr, an internationally recognised authority on Hitchcock, as an indication of future screenings and lectures. St Mary’s alumni and friends are invited to the official launch event which will take place on Thursday 28th February. Tickets cost £12 and include dinner. For more information please contact the St Mary’s alumni office on alumni@stmarys.ac.uk or call 020 8240 4007.