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Cube Microplex facts for kids

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Cube Microplex
Cubemicroplex.jpg
Front entrance to the Cube
General information
Town or city Bristol
Country England
Coordinates 51°27′40″N 2°35′36″W / 51.4611°N 2.5934°W / 51.4611; -2.5934

The Cube Microplex is a cool cinema and event place in Bristol, England. It's special because it's run by volunteers and doesn't aim to make a profit. It's like a big team effort! Since it opened in 1998, the Cube has hosted lots of amazing events. These include films, music shows, and other artistic performances. It's also a central spot for Bristol's creative community. The building has a cinema room with about 108 seats. There's also a bar that serves local and fair-trade products.

History of the Cube

Cubemicroplexsign
Cube Microplex neon sign

The main theatre inside the Cube was once a workshop. In 1964, volunteers turned it into a theatre for a local acting group. The building itself has been a community arts spot for a long time. It was built in 1916 as workshops for the Bristol Deaf Centre. Then, in 1964, theatre fans changed it into a theatre with a stage and special equipment. A projection room and cinema screen were added in the 1970s.

The Cube opened its doors in its current form in October 1998. In July 2001, a serious fire happened nearby. It damaged parts of the buildings next door. The Cube itself only had minor damage. But its main entrance was blocked because of the fire. This meant the Cube couldn't be used by the public for a while. After a lot of rebuilding work, the Cube reopened in August 2002. It had a new entrance on Dove Street South.

In December 2013, people started a project to raise money. They wanted to buy the building where the Cube is located. They successfully reached their goal of £185,000. On April 1, 2014, the Cube officially became owned by Microplex Holdings Ltd. This is a special non-profit group set up by Cube volunteers. Their goal is to make sure the Cube Cinema stays a community arts space forever.

What Happens at the Cube

Test Tube Cabaret at the Cube
Science Cabaret at the Cube

The Cube hosts over 350 events each year. About 1500 people visit every month. Besides showing films and hosting music, the Cube also has performances and educational programs. It welcomes many local and international artists. It also hosts events started by the community.

The films shown include popular movies, unique art-house films, and special cult movies. They also show films made by local filmmakers. The Cube even has special film screenings for mothers and babies.

Regular events include stand-up comedy shows. They also screen classic or cult comedy films. A fun event is "movieoke." Here, audience members act out their favorite movie scenes on stage. The scenes play on the big screen behind them. Weekends often feature live music and performances. Sometimes, other groups can rent the building for their own events. The Cube has hosted many festivals too. These include the Venn Festival and Ladyfest Bristol.

The Cube has a special way of doing things. They don't always follow big corporate rules. This led to projects like Cube-Cola. This is their own cola drink, made using an open-source recipe. They also have "Feral Trade." This project gets products for their bar, like fair-trade coffee from El Salvador. They get these products through personal connections, not big companies. The Cube also has its own orchestra called the Orchestra Cube.

The Cube is known for setting up temporary cinemas in cool places. They even set one up in a tin mine in Cornwall! In March 2010, a group traveled to Haiti after a big earthquake. They set up an open-air cinema there. They showed movies to children, including some films made just for them. In 2015, they did something similar in Nepal after another earthquake.

How the Cube is Run

The Cube Cinema was officially formed in 1998. It is run as a worker's cooperative. This means it's managed democratically by its members. The volunteers who work there have ranged in age from 8 to 65.

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