Home   News   Article

Eden Court in Inverness to open its cinemas and café bar as coronavirus restrictions ease


By Staff Reporter

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Eden Court in Inverness is preparing to reopen its cinemas and cafe bar.
Eden Court in Inverness is preparing to reopen its cinemas and cafe bar.

Eden Court in Inverness is preparing to welcome back film fans later this month.

With the Scottish Government now expecting coronavirus regulations to move into level two across Scotland on May 17, the venue has announced it will open its cinemas and café bar on Wednesday May 26.

It will also restart live performances on the main stage in the Empire Theatre in July.

It follows the announcement that the venue’s outdoor flagship summer festival, Under Canvas, is returning from July.

James Mackenzie-Blackman, Eden Court chief executive, was "thrilled" to announce the reopening plans.

"All of us at Eden Court know the vital role we play in the heart of the city," he said.

"A safe welcome is guaranteed as we embark on rebuilding Eden Court, a process and journey that will take some time.

"We have curated a programme of events this summer that I sincerely hope will allow audiences and visitors to be reminded of the impact of the arts, and the impact that socialising has on our day-to-day wellbeing.

"We’re in the business of bringing people together and we can’t wait to start doing that again."

After closing last year’s Inverness Film Festival, Nomadland comes back to Eden Court's big screen following a film awards season blitz that culminated in a triumphant sweep at the Academy Awards last month.

Oscar winners, Sound of Metal and Minari, also feature in the programme along with indie films Undine, exploring the myth of the water nymph, and Billie Piper’s directorial debut, black comedy, Rare Beasts.

Family big screen offerings include Wonder Woman 1984, new Disney instant classic Raya and the Last Dragon and mischievous romp Peter Rabbit 2.

More titles are yet to be confirmed.

Paul MacDonald-Taylor, head of film and visual art, said: "Film has always been at its best as a communal experience.

"People can come together and be transported to anywhere on earth, or anywhere in your imagination, using the window of the cinema screen.

"It feels great to be able to open our cinemas again and to reopen that window to our audiences."

Under Canvas, the outdoor summer festival co-curated with Fèis Rois, returns from July 1 to September 30.

The full programme will be announced in early June and will include live music, performance and DJ sets.

Eden Court's main stage in the Empire Theatre will welcome the return of in-person events with the Donmar Warehouse’s socially-distanced Blindness from July 5 – 10.

Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens has adapted Nobel Prize winner José Saramago’s dystopian novel as a sound installation, with immersive binaural sound design and voiced by Juliet Stevenson. Tickets are on sale now.

Related story: Eden Court's Empire Theatre to host audience


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More