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Home / About / Volunteer / Meet our Staff - Gareth Jenkinson

One of the things that makes the Electric Palace such a great place to visit is our fabulous, dedicated volunteer and staff team. 

So, who are the people who welcome you  to the cinema? Find out...meet Gareth Jenkinson.

Name: Gareth Jenkinson

What prompted you to become involved with the cinema?

I'd been to some events and films here and loved the space and the sense of community here.  It's so widely loved locally that I felt I had to be a part of it.

How long have you worked at the cinema?

Since March 2024.

What's your favourite thing about the cinema?

As an audience member I love the feeling that you're entering a secret space as you climb the stairs then burst into to the auditorium - the red velvet drapes and the red wall lights feel decadent and timeless.

What special perk do love as a staff member at the Electric Palace?

Watching films you wouldn't necessarily choose to watch and then enjoying them!

Tell us about an experience at the cinema (not necessarily from at the Electric Palace).

Years ago I projected Cinema Paradiso on an old Italian projector in an old style projection box completely separated from the audience.  And though I had the worst seat and the worst sound in the house, with the constant whirr and heat from the projector, I was totally immersed in the story of the film and aware of a deeper sense of time, continuity and magic of cinema.

Volunteers at the Electric Palace sometimes see movies they may not have planned to watch, occasionally outside of their comfort zone or usual taste. Tell us about a film you saw at the Electric Palace that took you by surprise.

The very first film I screened here was Smoke, Sauna, Sisterhood: a documentary about an intergenerational group of Estonian women who meet regularly at a woodland cabin sauna and talk about their lives and experiences.  I didn't consider myself to be the target audience but I was riveted and moved to tears, and I know that part of how I felt was because I was watching it in the company of others.

Tell us about favourite film of yours.

David Byrne's "True Stories" has always been a favourite:  as a teenage Talking Heads fan it was a must-see, and for me it's never lost its charm.  For people who are familiar with the Heads album of the same name, it's a real treat hearing versions of the songs sung by the actors.  I recently forced my kids to watch it and, as certified Wes Anderson fans, they enjoyed the off kilter world and were excited by the idea that someone "from a a band" could make a film.

Tell us a good film to watch that makes you laugh out loud or blub your eyes out.

"The Death of Stalin".

Do you have a memory to share about a great film night at the cinema?

Shortly

At the Electric Palace as well as our programme of new films we also have other stuff; special film showings like Cinema Plus, B Movie nights and events such as comedy, music, theatre, quiz nights and so on. Tell us about one you like or liked and why.

I've just seen Joe Kent-Walters' dark character comedy show "An Audience with Franke Monroe" as part of the Hastings Comedy Festival.  It was as much a piece of theatre as a stand up show, and worked so perfectly in a slightly sweaty, sold out Electric Palace.  I was serving drinks and operating sound cues for the show in between hooting with laughter.

What's your favourite snack or drink at the cinema?

Mint Poppets, no contest.  But open the box before the lights go down or you'll never get in.

What's your favourite seat?

Second row from the back, to the left of the aisle.  Benefits of being slightly raised for good sightlines plus the surround sound speakers are behind you!

Finally, tell us something unusual about yourself.

I toured with Britain's only horse drawn theatre company.  I fell off the stage in front of 300 people pulling a load of musical instruments down with me and the collective gasp of the audience is a sound I will never forget.

Find out more about volunteering at the Electric Palace

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