The David Lean Cinema has recently released their plans for the next three years. The cinema who (in this formation) has recently turned 10, is growing up. For an organisation run predominantly by their 80+ strong group of volunteers, they have outlined a very professional strategy moving forward. Shortening their name to DLC in their strategy document, their vision is to enrich lives through the magic of cinema, and their mission is to promote British and world film, grow and diversify their audience, and sustain their volunteer-led, community cinema.

They have five priorities for the next three years:

1. To promote the magic of cinema
2. To grow and diversify our audience
3. To strengthen and value our team of volunteers
4. To be environmentally responsible
5. To be financially viable

Talking, in the foreword of the strategy, of cinema’s magic, the DLC patron, Joanna Scanlan says, ‘Those educated in the lonely consumption of “content” on individual screens are said to be beginning to experience how wonderful watching films alongside other humans can be! The DLC puts this very magic of cinema as a cornerstone of its new strategy.’

And wonderful the DLC is, as where else in South London may you see and hear Hollywood celebs talk at Q&As about their latest films after seeing the screenings, as has happened in the last couple of years? (We were sitting a mere metre from Tilda Swinton in the DLC at the start of 2024). And indeed many of their regular patrons see DLC as ‘more than an auditorium in which to watch a film. They see it as a place to meet, “a form of club.”

Although core culture goers in Croydon know of the DLC’s immense value, the organisation is pragmatic about what they need to do to grow to be financially viable. From this year they are improving their publicity and website – the latter will ‘be the hub for everything we do. It will be simple to access and to navigate.’ They are looking at technical improvements, such as plans to upgrade their Dolby sound System, the installation of a new screen, and improving the equipment needed for their Q&A sessions.

They also understand they need to widen the demographic of their audience, as currently a significant percentage of the audience are over 65 (senior-priced tickets made up 55% of the DLC ticket sales in FY 2023/24). With this in mind they are planning to expand the number of film screenings ‘on days and at times that better fit the lifestyles and work patterns of some of our patrons, for example, in the late afternoon or early evening, after work or college.’

The strategy document (which can typically seem rather dry) is an exciting read, as the DLC outlines a future for the beloved Croydon cinema that will continue to be full of magic, but accessible to many more people around our borough and beyond.

You can read the full DLC strategy here.

Check out the DLC programme on their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

The David Lean Cinema resides in Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET. 

Images courtesy of DLC.

Posted by Julia