Notting Hill's Coronet cinema to become theatre
A cinema in London's Notting Hill is to return to its roots as a theatre.
The two-screen Coronet Cinema is to become the new home of fringe venue The Print Room, which will move from its premises a few streets away.
It will launch its inaugural season this autumn in the cinema's second, smaller screening room, which will be converted into a 100-seat theatre.
The larger space will continue to operate as a cinema under the The Print Room artistic team.
The Coronet first opened as a theatre in 1898 and featured appearances from actors including Ellen Terry and Sarah Bernhardt. John Gielgud saw his first Shakespeare play, As You Like It, at the theatre in 1912.
It became a full-time cinema in 1923 - and is recognisable from a scene in the romantic comedy Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant watches a film in prescription goggles.
The 80-seat Print Room, which opened as a self-funded venture in a former print works in 2010, has been searching for a new home since the landowner announced plans to demolish the building to build luxury flats.
Artistic director Anda Winters said the move would secure the company's long-term future and ensure the Coronet's preservation for public use.
"It's a truly grand space where we can keep delivering our eclectic programme of world-class drama, innovative dance, diverse music, poetry, exhibitions and other performing arts, with the addition of world-class cinema," she said.