Secret Cinema Back to the Future set Pic : Sara Dilmamonde
Secret Cinema has scrapped the screening of ‘Back to the Future’ for the second night in a row – and again just hours before it was due to start.
The outdoor screening of the 1980s classic time travel comedy cost was due to open on Thursday at 5.15pm with ticket holders being taken to the ‘secret’ location from a pick up point at near Hackney Wick Station. However, it was cancelled before the screening in the Hackney Wick area: “Due to unavoidable circumstances.”
The event was cancelled again last night provoking another barrage of criticism on social media with many complaining about the second last minute cancellation.
The only signs of the stalled event yesterday was a cluster of yellow jacketed stewards at Hackney Wick tube station, positioned there to pass on news of the cancellation to any ticket holders who had yet to find out.
Secret Cinema Back to the Future set Pic : Sara Dilmamonde
The announcement on Secret Cinema’s Facebook page yesterday said: “Unfortunately we have no choice but to cancel tonight’s performance.
“Secret Cinema has been running safe arts events for 10 years and on this occasion we have come across a number of issues that we have not experienced previously.”
The reference to ‘safe art events’ gave a clue to the issues that prevented the event going ahead. This was later confirmed by Founder Fabien Riggall, in detailed comments to the BBC, explained that they had been unable to meet technical requirements to satisfy local authorities.
He told the BBC it was “heart-breaking” to disappoint fans and has now cancelled screenings until July 31, 2014.
The Back to the Future screenings, which promised an immersive experienced in which audiences can interact with recreated sets from the film, has proven incredibly popular. It is expected that over 80,000 tickets – which cost £53.50 – was will be sold for the run which was planned to run to August 31, 2014. In the first four minutes and 17,000 tickets were sold.
However, the ‘secret’ east London site near Hackney Wick was almost deserted last night. Locked to visitors, there were only security and crew members milling around some familiar settings from the classic film.
Crew at the site did not provide any further information responding to enquiries with the instruction to check the website for updates and explanation.
Secret Cinema has offered ticketholders a full refund or an exchange for an alternative screening date.
