Chelsea Cinema Gets a Makeover - The Arts Injection Adelaide Needs?

Anyone living in Adelaide over the last year or so would be well aware of the controversial sale of the Chelsea cinema. It brought out more passion and fight in the community than had been seen for quite some time.

The heritage listed, Art Deco styled cinema in Adelaide's eastern suburbs opened in 1925 and has always functioned as a cinema. When it was first opened it was called The Princess Theatre and could seat some 1300 people. The original configuration of the cinema allowed space for an orchestra pit around the screen.

With the sale now having gone through and ownership transferred, there is news today that the new owners plan to turn the cinema into a "premier live entertainment" venue, which, when not showing movies, will use the space for classical, comedy and cabaret shows. There is also some talk that the name will return to The Princess Theatre.

Adelaide is in desperate need of more arts venues. The eastern suburbs already has several venues, like the Odeon Theatre at Norwood and other smaller halls, but having a new space would truly be exciting. We are the Festival state, and we have a wonderful Arts community, but it is nowhere near as exciting as it could be. Opening up a new space, offering a different kind of entertainment, could be just the exciting kick Adelaide needs. It's a risky decision, considering how unhappy the community is about the sale and the threat to the cinema's proud history, but hopefully, if this plan comes to fruition, the community will come to embrace it.

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