Dinosaurs took over the Harwich Redoubt on Sunday 27 September as the fort was transformed into an outdoor cinema for a special screening of Jurassic Park.
More than 30 years after its original run at the Electric Palace Cinema, Spielberg’s 1993 classic returned to the town in a unique new setting as part of Fort Flicks – a collaboration between the Harwich Society and the Electric Palace Cinema’s Archive Project.
The event brought together cinema and local heritage for a special afternoon celebrating two important parts of Harwich’s history. Families from across East Anglia enjoyed an afternoon of prehistoric-themed activities and the chance to explore the site itself, before settling in to watch the much-loved blockbuster on the big screen.
Andy Schooler, Chairman of the Harwich Society, said: “Fort Flicks was a fantastic opportunity to bring the Redoubt to life in a completely new way, while connecting it with important parts of Harwich’s heritage alongside our friends at the Electric Palace.
“We loved seeing the space filled with families enjoying activities and watching Jurassic Park together on the big screen, and hope the event has encouraged people who may not have visited the Redoubt before to come back and discover more of what it has to offer. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came along and to the volunteers who helped make Fort Flicks happen.”
Isobel Keith, the Electric Palace Cinema’s Archive Project Manager, said: “We were thrilled to work with the Harwich Society to bring the power of cinematic storytelling out of the Electric Palace and into another of Harwich’s historic buildings. Fort Flicks was a wonderful way to celebrate the town’s rich film and architectural heritage, while giving audiences the chance to experience Jurassic Park in a completely different setting.”
Fort Flicks was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, as part of the Harwich Society’s pilot repair project, in collaboration with the Electric Palace’s Heritage-Fund supported Archive Project, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.
The event forms part of the Harwich Society’s wider work to bring new audiences to the Redoubt and create opportunities for more people to discover, enjoy and connect with the historic site.
For information on the Harwich Society’s Redoubt pilot repair project, visit: https://www.harwich-society.co.uk/redoubt-pilot-repair-project/, and to find out more about volunteering opportunities, email volunteers@harwich-society.co.uk.