On Saturday 25 October, around a dozen people attended the inaugural set design workshop given by five experienced CX set and lighting designers. The morning sessions covered:
Welcome and theatre tour – David Simmons
The role of the designer – Mike Simmons
The design process – Greg Ryder
Creating the concept – Jean White
Lighting design – Bruce Williams
Look and feel – Nicola Webb
Following lunch, the attendees paired up and each had a go at creating sketches and a box model for The Unfriend, a comedy that required a complicated box set, featuring a much-used staircase, several doors, a loo, a kitchen and living area. This presented quite a few challenges, which the groups had to overcome and report on, when they presented their final models.
The day was enjoyed by all, with good feedback received. Below are photos of some of the attendees with their box models.
We recently were awarded a framed certificate by the national Exhibition on Screen distributors, as being in their top 30 nationwide for audience figures of all exhibition on screen titles. We were chuffed to get this honour, as their cinema roster covers all the multiplexes, the large independent chains, like PictureHouse and Everyman, and various arthouse venues.
So, thanks to our loyal audiences, our modest 179 seater-venue is one of the top 30 in the country! The next EoS showing is Caravaggio on 12 November at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets available here.
Here’s a photo of the certificate, which is hanging in the CX foyer.
Building maintenance vacancy
Thursday, August 14th, 2025
We have a vacancy for someone to be in charge of building maintenance for the Corn Exchange. This is a volunteer role – expenses for materials would be covered but there is no salary or stipend available.
We would very much like to set up a team of 3-4 people who have a reasonable knowledge of DIY. We don’t expect anyone to do everything that is required, but need people who can come into the Corn Exchange reasonably quickly after a problem has been identified, assess the situation and take a decision whether it is an in-house job or not and then – if necessary – contact a suitable professional to carry out more complex work. We have some contacts and can do a handover.
This would ideally suit retirees who live reasonably close to the Corn Exchange. If you are interested, please contact our chair on chair@cornexchange.org.uk.
John Warburton retires after 55+ years’ service
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
On Saturday 31 May, around 100 people gathered to celebrate the retirement of Wallingford resident, John Warburton, after over 55 years’ service to the Corn Exchange. The afternoon started with a screening of the film, Easy Virtue, where John made a brief appearance (one of over 200 films he was in as an extra). Following this, there was a drinks party where John was honoured by Corn Exchange Chair, Gloria Wright, and presented with several gifts, including signs for the newly appointed Warburton Room, a ‘golden ticket’ for lifetime cinema screenings, a book of archive photos, and a framed memento highlighting his contribution.
The photo shows John Warburton (left) being presented with his framed memento by David Simmons.
In her speech, Gloria noted that John first joined the Sinodun Players in 1970 for that year’s pantomime Cinderella. Since then, he has appeared in 30 or more productions for the SP’s. She outlined how significant his efforts had been in making the Corn Exchange the success it is today, starting in 1975, when John was behind the fund-raising appeal to buy the current building, and was heavily involved in obtaining Planning & Listed Building consent, with conversion work beginning in early 1976.
Since then, John has undertaken fund-raising for a building extension in 1980, purchase of a sound system in 1986 and a digital projection system in 2012. Apart from this, John was Corn Exchange General Manager from 1980 -2001, a Trustee for nine years, newsletter editor for 15 years and Cinema Manager, responsible for all film bookings, from 1995 to 2025.
Ending her presentation, Gloria said: “What can I say that would possibly sum up the incalculable contribution that John Warburton has made to the Corn Exchange? Well, in 2015, news of his remarkable work reached Downing Street and in the New Year’s Honours List he was awarded the British Empire Medal for ‘Services to the Arts in Oxfordshire through the Corn Exchange Wallingford’. This is a very fitting accolade to his many achievements, for which we are truly grateful”.
Join our Workshop Team
Tuesday, May 27th, 2025
As many of you will know, set building for SP productions takes place largely on weekdays during the day, with a dedicated team of retired folk involved. We would dearly love to open this task to a wider group, and to this end, Mick Woodhouse, one of that senior group, has suggested a regular session at time when others might be able to take part.
We are therefore going to start regular Thursday evening sessions starting on June 5th at 7.00pm. If you are interested, come along and see what is happening. Come to the foyer and you will be directed to the workshop area.
David Simmons
Workshop Leader
CALLING ALL BUDDING SET DESIGNERS
Wednesday, March 12th, 2025
Are you interested in learning about set design? Some of our current set designers would be willing and delighted to run a set design workshop and nurture anyone who would be interested in learning.
Please get in touch with chair@sindodunplayers.org.uk if you are interested.
Everyone and anyone would be welcome to come along.
Sinodun Players and Corn Exchange awarded Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020
The Corn Exchange in Wallingford and the Sinodun Players, resident company and owner of the theatre, have received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest possible honour for voluntary groups in the UK.
The Players transformed the Corn Exchange from a derelict building into a “cornerstone of the community”. It has been showing plays and films to residents of Wallingford and the surrounding area for more than 40 years.
Members and volunteers at the theatre, which is currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, were told today (Tuesday, 2nd June) about the award – which is made every year to mark the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.
Gloria Wright, Chair of the Sinodun Players said: ‘We always knew our wonderful members and volunteers were brilliant, and I’m sure they already know how highly they are valued, but now all the hard work and commitment over the last 40 years has been officially recognised.’
The nomination process was carried out by Deputy Lieutenants for Oxfordshire Miranda Markham and Kate Tiller. Dr Tiller said in her report: ‘Wallingford Corn Exchange, home of the Sinodun Players Amateur Dramatic Society shows how a traditional local organisation can transform itself and develop into a key community asset for the 21st century.
She added: ‘Described by its users as “the heart of the community”, not only is it a cultural landmark but importantly it serves as a cross generational meeting hub where people of all backgrounds are welcome to both enjoy the experience as well as to volunteer their own unique skills.’
The group was nominated for the award by Lynda Atkins, a former Oxfordshire County Councillor. She said: ‘Without the Sinodun Players and its volunteers, the Grade II listed Corn Exchange would not exist as a community facility’.
Ed Vaizey, ex-MP for Wantage and Didcot and a former culture minister, gave his support as part of the submission and said: “The Sinodun Players, and the Corn Exchange theatre which they run, have been cornerstones of the community in Wallingford and the surrounding area for decades. As a result of their entirely voluntary efforts, Wallingford has an outstanding range of drama available”.
Professor Malcolm Airs, former conservation officer for South Oxfordshire also added his recommendation to the nomination: “As the local authority Conservation Officer at the time I was deeply impressed by the sensitive way that they carried out the conversion in a manner that retained its intrinsic historic character. Under their careful stewardship it has undergone a series of staged improvements to become a highly sophisticated venue.”
The Sinodun Players purchased the then-derelict Corn Exchange in 1976, converting it into a base for its theatre productions, a theatre and cinema. The building has been run as a successful venue since the end of 1978 when it was formally opened by the late Sir Peter Hall, founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company and former director of the National Theatre, who lived in Wallingford at that time.
The Sinodun Players and Corn Exchange Wallingford is one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the award this year. The number of nominations remains high year on year, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Sound in the Cinema
Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
The standard level for film sound in an Auditorium is 7.0 on the calibrated Dolby™ Volume level control.
However, many cinemas including this one, have found that this setting can allow excessive sound levels on some film soundtracks.
However, as part of the experience, the sound in a cinema will always be louder than that of a television set playing in a family lounge.
We therefore run our sound level at Volume setting 5.5 which allows the quiet nuances and dialogue on the soundtrack to be easily heard as well as allowing the occasional high level sound such as that of a jet aircraft taking off. This is done for dramatic effect.
The Auditorium sound level is always checked by the projectionist as soon as the main feature starts.
you are interested.
