Burnham-On-Sea’s sea wall was transformed into a unique outdoor cinema screen for the first time on Saturday (May 3rd).
A group of design students from the University of London visited Burnham to use a stretch of the curved sea defences on the South Esplanade for the unique trial in which a film was projected onto it.
An audience of 20 people was invited along to the special screening, which featured a history film about Burnham in the 1930s by the late Norman Gobey, highlighted here.
Hannah Fasching, who is leading the project for Goldsmiths, University of London, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’re studying the impact of nature on human forces and I was struck by Burnham sea wall’s architectural design during a visit to Somerset earlier this year after the floods.”
“Burnham is a coastal community that over the years has suffered tidal flooding. As a response, this three-metre wall now stands along the seafront, returning waves back to the sea.”
“Our Intertidal Cinema project addresses this superimposition of human structures over natural forces.”
She said the team hopes to hold further screenings later in the year and explained that a public event was not possible this time.
“While we had permission from Sedgemoor District Council to go ahead with this screening, our insurance would not cover us for a large audience so we couldn’t promote the event to the general public but we hope to be back again soon.”
The black and white film was beamed onto Burnham’s sea wall using three projectors
A small gathering of invited guests watched the screening and the organisers say they hope to hold a public event in the future
The group’s sign promoting ‘The Intertidal Cinema’ succumbed to the incoming tide
