Kilmarnock to host an autism-friendly premiere of Jim Carrey’s latest film

KILMARNOCK’S Odeon Cinema is to host an autism-friendly premiere of Jim Carrey’s latest film. ‘Mr Popper’s Penguins’ will be shown at the Queen’s Drive cinema on Thursday, August 11, as part of a UK-wide first by Odeon and not-for-profit provider of support for people with autism, Dimensions.

To make the film accessible to people with autism and those with learning disabilities the lights in the theatre will be left on low, the sound will be turned down and people will be free to move around the cinema and make noise as they feel comfortable.

Quarriers, the Scottish social care charity are backing the move.

Helen Hunter, Quarriers operations director who is responsible for children and young people’s services, said: “All children enjoy watching the latest films on a big screen. It is fantastic the Kilmarnock Odeon has partnered with Dimensions in taking these simple steps to make blockbusters more accessible to children with autism.

“Autism is a neurological disorder and children who have been diagnosed with the condition often find going to the cinema extremely challenging as they have difficulties managing the louder sounds and lower light levels in a cinema.

“We would encourage other cinemas to follow the example of the Kilmarnock Odeon and enable more children with autism to enjoy the latest films as other children do.”

It is hoped this will be the first of many autism friendly screenings of different films to be shown at the cinema.

Kilmarnock Odeon general manager Stephen Dempster added: “We very much wanted to work with Dimensions to offer a cinema experience to people who wouldn’t normally find it easy to come to see a film.

“We all know that watching a film on the big screen is a wonderful experience and it is one that should be accessible to everyone. Working with Dimensions has raised our awareness about the needs of people with autism.”

Mr Popper’s Penguins is based on a children’s book about how the life of a businessman begins to change after he inherits six penguins. Tickets for the screening at the Kilmarnock Odeon in Queen’s Drive will go on sale after 2pm on August 2.