There are lots of lovely things about Wimborne but one of the main ones for me is its old fashioned sense of community spirit. Nothing shows this off more than the beautiful Art Deco Tivoli Theatre and Cinema.

Unlike so many of the original Edwardian and Art Deco theatres that didn’t make it, this one was saved from demolition by Wimborne’s loyal locals who also raised the funds to restore it back to its original Art Deco splendour.

Staying true to the 1930s tradition of showing both films and live stage shows it keeps up to date with all the latest feature films and has become a well respected venue for touring musicians. For an Art Deco fan like me it’s the most beautiful time warp, complete with original movie posters lining the walls and a proper sweet shop stand.

I was thrilled to discover that they had even kept the original couples’ seats and when I explained to one of the volunteers that we had fallen in love, their swift reply was to ask if we had fallen in love with the theatre or with each other… I would say a bit of both!

That’s what makes the Tivoli so special to me, the volunteers and their pride and passion for the theatre. You can’t just ask a question about its history,  you will get the whole tour!

Images by Kelly-Marie Burdekin