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The Luna Cinema shows Dirty Dancing and Top Gun at Tonbridge Castle

Well-prepared film fans arrived in their waterproofs for the first ever open air cinema screening at Tonbridge Castle at the weekend.

As the rain fell they watched Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis in Top Gun, the first of two screenings in the grounds of the 11th Century building in Castle Street, Tonbridge.

The weather had improved by Saturday evening and a sell-out audience sang and swooned along to another eighties classic, romantic drama Dirty Dancing.

The evening performance of Dirty Dancing at Tonbridge Castle. Picture: Nik Dudley Photography
The evening performance of Dirty Dancing at Tonbridge Castle. Picture: Nik Dudley Photography

The outdoor evenings were organised by The Luna Cinema, a company that tours the country setting up giant screens in parks and gardens and in the grounds of stately homes, ruins and, of course, castles.

This was the first time Luna had visited Tonbridge, having previously shown films at Leeds Castle and Rochester Castle in Kent, but the company is already planning a return visit next summer.

George Wood from Luna said: “We choose venues with a backdrop you would want to watch a film against and Tonbridge Castle was perfect.

The Luna Cinema chooses locations that provide an interesting backdrop. Picture: Nik Dudley Photography
The Luna Cinema chooses locations that provide an interesting backdrop. Picture: Nik Dudley Photography

"As it was a new venue for us we chose films that would attract a large audience but once it’s established we can be a bit more diverse with the programming.

"We would welcome suggestions from people as to what they’d like to see next time and we’ll definitely consider them.

“If we could have changed one thing it would have been the one thing we weren’t able to – the weather. Friday was a bit miserable but the audience were a hardened bunch.

The screen is set up for Tonbridge Castle's first open air cinema. Picture: Nik Dudley Photography
The screen is set up for Tonbridge Castle's first open air cinema. Picture: Nik Dudley Photography

"They came in their waterproofs and we had ponchos and blankets available.

“We can’t wait to come back to Tonbridge Castle next year.”

Email suggestions to info@lunacinema.com and click here for future screenings.

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