A Hollywood actor has thrown his support behind a cinema in Tywyn which needs to raise £18,000 to stay open.

The Magic Lantern cinema in Tywyn is trying to raise £18,000 to restore a vital part of its projector, and this week Welsh actor Michael Sheen tweeted a link to the cinema’s fundraising page.

“This beautiful 100 year-old Tywyn cinema needs to raise a bit of money to stay open,” the star said. “It’s a real community hub. We can do this!”

Staff said that Michael’s support for the campaign, and the exposure of his tweet, had had a significant impact on their fundraising efforts, generating a rapid increase in donations which have now reached almost £8,000.

The money is needed to restore the projector’s optical block.

As well as setting up a fundraising page online, staff at the cinema have also been dreaming up more ways to gather support, including a comical video showing what entertainment in the cinema would be like without films. In the video, staff show off their own varied talents – including juggling, stand-up comedy and musical performances – to fill the gap.

Built in 1893 and with screenings dating back to 1901, it is also the oldest cinema in the UK.

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