Ticket holders frustrated as World Movies forced to cancel Secret Cinema event
World Movies has been forced to cancel its sold out Secret Cinema event, leaving hundreds of ticket holders frustrated at a lack of communication since the original screenings were postponed at the last minute last month ‘due to unforeseen circumstances’.
The secret location for the event was Platform 26/27, a heritage listed space that exists below Sydney’s Central Station. The abandoned platform and unfinished train tracks were built in 1947, with construction ceasing in the 1960s, and to date it has never been used.
Ticket holders were informed of the decision by email last week, with refunds starting to be processed, including a booking fee. This followed several frustrated ticket holders taking to social media to vent their frustration at a lack of communication around the event.
World Movies publicist Michael Morcos said: “We are saddened by these unfortunate circumstances, and whole-heartedly apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The cancellation was announced in a post on the World Movies website which stated: “It is with extreme disappointment that World Movies regrets to announce the upcoming World Movies Secret Cinema is unable go ahead.
We are committed to bringing audiences the most cutting-edge, ground-breaking experience; however, challenges with our never-before-used location have resulted in ongoing complications which are unable to be resolved, and as such we can no longer proceed in the chosen venue as anticipated.”
A ticket holder who preferred not to be named told Mumbrella: “I was really just frustrated around the lack of communication. The Facebook page showed there was a lot of cranky customers. There was no transparency in letting us know what was going on.
“It took two-and-a-half to three weeks before they actually communicated anything to us, it was really disappointing because I was really looking forward to going,” they said.
The statement on the website explained some of the issues with the venue: “As a heritage-listed site, Platform 26/27 has presented World Movies Secret Cinema with numerous challenges to ensure a large-scale event could be held in the untouched space. Our event organisers have been working closely with relevant authorities to meet the unforeseen requirements that resulted in the postponement of the event.
“World Movies and the event organisers have worked tirelessly over recent weeks to explore every realistic solution to overcome these challenges and deliver audiences the most innovative event possible, however we have not been able to secure the location for the remaining dates.”
The ticket holder said while the event was appealing because of the mystery, this year’s poor communications, with customers informed by text just a few hours prior to the screening that it had been cancelled, could put them off next time.
They added: “They should have just kept us updated on a regular basis.”
April’s event was due to be the third time it had run in Sydney, with the number of sessions extended and the organisers touting the platform venue as the “best secret location” yet.
In its fourth year it was due to run across three days offering five sessions over the weekend from April 11 to April 13.
Miranda Ward
The full post reads:
It is with extreme disappointment that World Movies regrets to announce the upcoming World Movies Secret Cinema is unable go ahead.
We are committed to bringing audiences the most cutting-edge, ground-breaking experience; however, challenges with our never-before-used location have resulted in ongoing complications which are unable to be resolved, and as such we can no longer proceed in the chosen venue as anticipated.
World Movies Secret Cinema was to be held on Platform 26/27 – a heritage listed space that exists below Sydney’s Central Station, initially built to house the Maroubra train line. The abandoned platform and unfinished train tracks were built in 1947 with construction ceasing in the 1960’s, leaving the space incomplete, and to date it has never been used.
As a heritage-listed site, Platform 26/27 has presented World Movies Secret Cinema with numerous challenges to ensure a large-scale event could be held in the untouched space. Our event organisers have been working closely with relevant authorities to meet the unforeseen requirements that resulted in the postponement of the event.
World Movies and the event organisers have worked tirelessly over recent weeks to explore every realistic solution to overcome these challenges and deliver audiences the most innovative event possible, however we have not been able to secure the location for the remaining dates.
Refunds have already been processed for all ticket holders, and funds are returned to the method of payment originally used to purchase the tickets.
Note – refunds can take up to 7 -10 working days to reappear in your account depending on your financial institution. The amount of the ticket has been refunded in full, including booking fees.
We are saddened by these unfortunate circumstances, and whole-heartedly apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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