MTV Hits Secret Cinema

Well if you live near North London’s Alexandra Palace you may have, because last weekend saw Secret Cinema host their latest event at the venue. They’ve previously played Anvil! in a music venue before bringing the band out to perform on stage, hosted a Bugsy Malone screening with custard pie fight, and put on Blade Runner in futuristic Canary Warf. But this was their biggest event yet with nearly 15,000 people over three days joining in.

 

Arriving at 4pm MTV was not only greeted by the above but also thousands of filmgoers dressed in robes, headdresses, kaftans and carrying pillows and blankets. As bemused locals looked on the Secret Cinema disciples headed up the hill to the cavernous venue flanked by those animals and actors in costume.

 

Once inside it was clear that the organisers of the event are all about making this an immersive experience and not just a mystery film screening. The front of ‘Ally Pally’ was transformed into North African souks with food, souvenirs and authentic mint tea all available- it must be said at ‘festival prices’.

 

Most people had by now figured out that the secret film was classic Lawrence Of Arabia though in the gorgeous main hall we got more clues. Belly dancers came along holding snakes, a donkey popped by to say hello and finally Lawrence rode in on a camel. Well a young dashing actor playing the desert hero.

 

After acting out some scenes the film began at 7.30 which with a movie that is nearly four hours long was probably too late. But the David Lean epic did look stunning on the huge screen with Peter O’Toole’s eyes even more piercing than usual.

 

And you can’t fault the effort and attention to detail that goes into Secret Cinema. It’s definitely worth adding your name to the mailing list at secretcinema’s website and getting involved for their next movie Event- with a capital E.