Vintage red cinema tip-up chairs, movie posters and the smell of buttered popcorn will be used in a multi-sensory reminiscence space to capture stories which celebrate a people’s history of cinema-going at The Exchange.

The ‘Skip Back’ events will take place in a mini-museum and reminiscence space in what used to be Tiggi’s bar area, where people can share their memories.

Local people with photographs, souvenirs, memorabilia and first hand experiences of the building are invited to the opening weekend on either Saturday 24 or Sunday 25 June between 2pm – 4pm when afternoon tea will be available to visitors wishing to book a table in advance in MeeMaws cafe.

Souvenirs such as tickets, posters, uniforms and other cinema ephemera are being photographed. We want to meet staff who worked here or the couples who dated at the cinema and maybe even later married. Memories of the building are being captured on film and these will be incorporated in a new multi-media visitor trail using QR codes around the building, presented on a timeline which will become part of the fabric of the building. Highlights will also appear in a printed scrap book later this year.

The events are free to attend and include a tour of the building.

£5 tickets are also available for afternoon tea in Meemaws café.

These are limited and can be booked via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/642905667157

or by telephoning 07337 630033 or by email info@exchangeblackburn.org.uk.