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

So, who are the people who welcome you when you head up the stairs to the cinema? Find out in our Meet the Staff and Volunteers series...

Name: Nadine Hayward

What prompted you to volunteer/work at the cinema?

I'd been coming to the Electric Palace (EP) as a customer for a while and just loved the ambiance and the intimacy of the venue. I really loved the community-led running of it and wanted to get involved.

Have you ever gone to see a movie and wanted to watch it again immediately?

I was visiting a friend in New York and dragged her to see 'Bridesmaids' (against her will!) We, and everybody else, laughed so long, loud and hard that we kept missing lines of dialogue and needed to see it again to actually 'see' the whole film. I've never experienced an audience reaction like it, it was the greatest buzz! It's a hilarious and brilliant take on female friendships.

Tell us about a favourite film of yours.

When Harry Met Sally is one of my all-time favourites. The performances are sublime, the dialogue is so unbelievably sharp, witty and warm and it's a love letter to New York City too. I love anything Nora Ephron had a hand in - she was a genius!

Tell us about another event night at the Electric Palace that you liked and why.

I've been to a few comedy events at the EP, including the Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival in 2019, which have been brilliant evenings. I think they're so successful because of the intimacy of the venue - it's the perfect size for a comedian to draw in all their audience.

What's a great soundtrack you listen to?

Most recently I've fallen in love with La La Land. It's so uplifting. Favourites are When Harry Met Sally, Pulp Fiction (Tarantino has an incredible talent for picking his soundtracks), Magnolia (a great introduction to Aimee Mann) and for making my heart break, soar and explode...Last of the Mohicans (a brilliant film, too.)

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

When I lived in London I regularly attended the London Film Festival and in 2009 managed to bag tickets for the Gala screening of 'The Men Who Stare at Goats.' The film was a quirky, highly entertaining, brilliant bit of satire and George Clooney and other cast members introduced it, including the hilarious Jon Ronson who wrote the book it was based on. The whole evening was intensely satisfying on several levels!

What film would you like to watch at the cinema?

The Shape of Water. I have the DVD but have a feeling it needs a bigger screen to really appreciate it.

Tell us about a film you saw at the Electric Palace that took you by surprise.

I really enjoyed The Camino Voyage: "a modern day Celtic Odyssey," which I wouldn't ordinarily have been drawn to. It was incredibly moving and inspiring and it ended up being an emotional night at the EP!

What's your favourite thing about the cinema?

I love the intimacy and ambiance of the venue and the brilliant team of people that manage and staff it - it is quite simply a wonderful place to watch a film with other people that really love film too.

Find out more about volunteering at the Electric Palace