THE Gaiety Theatre was the perfect setting for Me and Orson Welles confirms director Richard Linklater.
Although the Manx premiere of the coming-of-age story had been slotted in between the London Leicester Square premier and the New York premiere of the film, Linklater said: 'We have been talking about this screening since we were here shooting. It's just amazing that we are going to watch the film here in this theatre.'
He said: 'It was magical filming in the Gaiety Theatre. I'll never forget the first time I walked in to the Gaiety. We only had one picture of the Mercury Theatre that was a reference photo and if you don't look up at the dome and third floor balconies there is a strong resemblance.
'The stage was the right size, the wonderful under stage area that we feature prominently in the movie meant we could use trap door effects. It worked perfectly. It was as big a casting as any of the actors.'
With 1,000 extras used for the film, Me and Orson Welles prompted the largest casting call the Isle of Man has experienced.
Many of the extras were at the Gaiety Theatre premiere trying to catch a glimpse of themselves pretending to be an audience in the Gaiety Theatre in the film.
Me and Orson Welles is currently screening at the Broadway Cinema in the Villa Marina. Call the Ticket Hotline on 600555.
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