Page 97 - Designing Ways 260

TAIL OF
THE DOG

Cinemas for Children

ith Covid on the back There was a tube down the one side the film started, everyone quietened
burner, movie houses are of the slope with a slide inside, so the down, and gradually slumped into
Wfully open again, and, in a precious darlings could disappear at their seats, lying in them, sideways,
bid to lure future customers, there is the top and miraculously reappear backwards, whichever way they
now a growing trend for child specific at the bottom. There was no hushing wanted.
cinemas. The foyers have low tables them up, or expecting them to sit still.
and chairs with toys, paper and There was no prohibition of the
crayons, to keep the kids busy while children’s need to be physical and Obviously, I was in just such a space,
waiting. Patrons under a certain age bouncy, no stopping them from being where I was very aware of the ideas
even get lucky packets. easily distracted. that governed the seating and other
design elements. Even the adult
The cinemas themselves are smaller seats were wide enough for a small
than usual, and have squishy beanbag Colours of the lower tiers of seats tired child to come and snuggle with a
type seating for the little wrigglers, are bright and cheerful – not the parent when the energy levels started
with a few rows of more conventional subdued dark seating of conventional to falter.
seats behind for parents, minders and adult cinemas. The lighting is also
older siblings. Competitions before purposely kept up, so the babes can
the start of the film have the kids look around and not be scared of the It was fun for all – even the oldies.
looking under seats for lucky numbers dark. The sound is also lowered, again
or prizes, involving clambering over to stop loud scary bangs and to keep
the rows and seats, naturally. the atmosphere relatively calm. As Gill Butler