Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Help!

The Beatles in Sefton – Film and live music event to celebrate 50 years since the release of the film HELP! 

The Plaza Community Cinema is delighted to welcome The Mersey Beatles back for another fabulous fundraiser event on Saturday 3rd October. 

The Plaza, a registered charity was saved from certain demolition in 1977 by the actions of the local community and is now run as a community cinema and staffed by volunteers ranging in age from 14 – 76 years. 

Over the last seven years the Plaza has undertaken a rolling programme of improvements to the facilities so that we can offer the best possible experience whilst maintaining the ambience of a beautiful art deco cinema.

Improvements include digital signage on the canopy, new seating, digital projectors and new lighting into all the public areas of the building. Our plans for the future include the refurbishment of the original art deco seating in the circle area and renewal of the toilets in the foyer. We are indeed grateful to the Mersey Beatles for offering to give our fundraising ventures a big boost.

Last year The Mersey Beatles played a live tribute to The Beatles to commemorate 50 years since the release of the film ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’ The evening consisted of a special screening of the film and two live sets by the Mersey Beatles. The event was such a success, that even in the middle of the World Cup we managed to draw in an audience in excess of 300.

Steve Howard, Paul in The Mersey Beatles said
“The band had such a great time last year playing to a large audience in a theatre style venue. The acoustics were wonderful and many people were up dancing to the music. We wanted to repeat the experience and also offer our support for a much loved local charity.”

This year the community cinema will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film ‘HELP!’ in the company of the Mersey Beatles. A special screening of HELP! will be accompanied by music from other Beatle films including Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow submarine. The second set will celebrate later Beatle music, coupled with a costume change, will feature numbers from Abbey Road, Sgt. Peppers and some solo tracks, heralding the start of the band needing to develop as individuals.

A special photographic souvenir programme drawing upon the Beatles links with Sefton will be available on the night. The brochure researched and photographed by Andy Joynson will show how The Beatles cut their teeth at numerous local venues throughout Sefton, ten of these venues, including The Lathom, and Southport Arts Centre, are featured in the brochure.

The idea for the unique combination of film and live shows was the brainchild of Mersey Beatles fans Andy Joynson, Rob Fyffe and Luana Michaels. Following a showing of the film ‘HELP!” in 2013, the three fans approached The Mersey Beatles, and as they say, the rest is history.

Andy Joynson, one of the three fans and event organiser said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed the movie ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and the Mersey Beatles evening last year as well as helping to promote and organise the event. Having The Mersey Beatles again at the cinema is a great and fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Beatles movie ‘HELP!’

Christine Physick arts director at Plaza Community Cinema said

“I would like to thank the Mersey Beatles for giving our fundraiser a massive boost. As a community cinema we are always keen to respond to community initiatives, and this was such an exciting idea we were delighted to take up the offer of help from The Mersey Beatles.

Our fundraiser, ‘A Seat in the Circle’ requires the cinema to raise £85,000 to restore the original balcony seats to their former glory. We are confident that with the help of The Mersey Beatles we can defray some of the costs incurred.”

This event will take place on Saturday 3rd October at 7.00pm. Doors open from 6.30pm.

Tickets priced at £10 include the film screening and two live sets by the band, and represents amazing value for money. Tickets are available now from the Plaza box office.

For more information please contact Christine Physick on 0151 928 1530 or via;, Christine@plazacinema.org.uk