Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (12A) Gala Night

Characters from every Harry Potter book and film descended on Worthing’s Connaught 2Screen Cinema on Friday July 17.  From Harry to Hermione, Dementors to Dumbledore, there was no escape as Potter-madness swept the cinema.

 Worthing Theatres Staff (l-r) Gemma Nethersole, Peter Bailey, Rachel Tout

Over 350 film-goers enjoyed an evening of Hogwarts hilarity as they dressed up as their favourite characters for Worthing Theatres’ most recent gala film event.  The competition was fierce as entire families of Harry Potter devotees competed against single children.  Magical illusionist James Long was given the taxing task of judging the entrants and soon named Ryan Flanagan, age 6, the winner when he received rapturous applause in appreciation of his costume from the audience.  In his long purple cloak, with bewitching glasses and a magical beard, he was the clear winner. 

 Fancy dress winner Ryan Flanagan and magical illusionist James Long

There were complimentary refreshments throughout the event as children and adults alike munched on popcorn coloured deep red to match Gryffindor house and enjoyed drinks more vibrant that anything Professor Snape could have concocted.  Large-scale illusions by James Long concluded with a show-stopping levitation while The British Wildlife Centre entranced the would-be witches and wizards with Milo the Barn owl, a Little Owl, an Eagle Owl, a fully grown Snowy owl and a Snowy owl chick.

Milo the Barn Owl

 The excitement of the evening was all to honour the opening weekend of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in which the schoolboy wizard faces some of his most terrifying ordeals to date.  As the film credits rolled anyone passing the Connaught Theatre would have seen a collection of magical characters disappearing into the night.  If you missed the excitement of the gala, at least there’s still time to see the film.

Nicky, Pete and Lola Fijalkowski

Pictures supplied with permission from www.studioiv.co.uk