• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Vue Cramlington to host special autism-friendly screening

A Cramlington cinema is extending its autism-friendly screenings in October to offer more families the chance to enjoy a film in a stress-free environment.

Vue Cramlington is joining forces with Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure on Sunday, October 8 to take part in the centre’s Autism Hour.

During this hour Manor Walks will be taking simple steps to make their shopping centre more autism friendly – from dimming the lights, turning down music, stopping tannoy announcements and sharing information about autism with employees and the public.

To coincide with the event Vue Cramlington is holding a special screening of The Jungle Bunch at 10:30am for families with children on the autistic spectrum.

The film tells the story of the Jungle Bunch’s tiger striped Kung Fu penguin leader Maurice and his comrades – a goldfish, tarsier and gorilla – who fight to protect the jungle from a gang of silly baboons led by Igor the evil Koala.

Janice Anderson, Vue Cramlington Manager said: “A trip to the cinema is meant to be an enjoyable experience for everyone, so we have worked hard to make Vue Cramlington inclusive for everyone in the local community.

“We recognise that many parents or carers of autistic children choose to avoid a trip to the cinema because they are not easily accessible. So that’s why we now hold regular autism-friendly screenings to make families feel welcome, comfortable and relaxed in an environment that can otherwise seem overwhelming.”

In Vue Cramlington’s autism-friendly screenings the lights are left on low, the sound is turned down and trailers and adverts aren’t played.

When customers book tickets for one of the screenings, they’ll be asked to choose allocated seats but the cinema does encourage guests to move around during the screening and make a bit of noise.

Lesley Cole from Autism Northumberland, said: “It is really important for Cinemas and other Venues to hold Autism and relaxed screening events.

“Making adjustments which include lights left on low, the volume not so high, no trailers and the freedom for visitors to move around freely within the cinema during the film.

“This enables people with additional needs to feel inclusive, enables them to watch a film in an environment which has been specifically adapted to meet there needs and for whole families to enjoy the experience in a relaxed environment which is welcoming and accepting.”

In addition to this special screening, Vue Cramlington hosts an autism-friendly screening every month on the last Sunday at 10am.

You can book tickets for the special autism-friendly screenings at https://www.myvue.com/cinema/cramlington/whats-on.

By Emily