{"id":14,"date":"2025-11-18T07:57:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T07:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wtw.busy-lichterman.64-225-55-71.plesk.page\/truro\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2025-11-18T12:11:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T12:11:38","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wtw.busy-lichterman.64-225-55-71.plesk.page\/truro\/cinema-details\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Plaza at Truro<\/div>
Want to know more?<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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About Us<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Plaza opened in February 1936 with a seating capacity of 1,176 in stalls and circle. It was designed in an art deco style by noted Bristol based cinema architect William Henry Watkins. Built for a local company, it was acquired by the Jackson Withers Circuit of Cardiff in 1943. The proscenium was 34 feet wide, there were 3 dressing rooms and a cafe and ballroom above the entrance foyer.<\/p>

The Plaza was then taken over by the Rank Organisation in 1976\/77 who applied for a bingo license which was refused. An offer to purchase the cinema by the Cornwall based WTW Group was turned down in March 1977, the building eventually being acquired by a Somerset businessman who added a second screen in the cafe area seating 175.<\/p>

The cinema hit hard times in the 1990s with attendances dwindling, and entered receivership in November 1996. It was subsequently closed on safety grounds by Carrick District Council, leaving Cornwall\u2019s only city without a cinema.<\/p>

20 years after they had unsuccessfully opened negotiations to purchase The Plaza, WTW Cinemas acquired the freehold of the premises in May 1997 and immediately began an extensive reconstruction and refurbishment of the building. The modernisation programme enabled The Plaza to reopen on 10th July 1998, with patrons showing their approval with attendance levels exceeding expectations. In 2016 a new screen was added at the top of the building as the former caf\u00e9 was transformed into screen 5 \u2013 \u2018The Lemon Suite\u2019 (details below).<\/p>

In recent years the Plaza has received a number of awards including:<\/p>

The RAAM UK Independent Cinema Of The Year for 2006 (and runner up in 2009).<\/p>

UK Technical Team Of The Year 2013 presented by the BKSTS at a prestigious award ceremony at the London headquarters of Dolby Studios.<\/p>

In 2014 The Plaza received the Best Cinema Award at the What\u2019s On Cornwall Awards Ceremony at the Eden Project, voted for by readers of \u2018The West Briton\u2019, \u2018Cornishman\u2019 and \u2018Cornish Guardian\u2019 newspapers.<\/p>

In 2016 WTW Cinemas were recognised as Cinema Partner Of The Year at the More2Screen \u2018MAFTAs\u2019 recognising their commitment in the delivery of event cinema and live transmissions.<\/p>

The Cinema currently has five screens. Screens one to four have wheelchair access, with screens one and four on the first floor and accessible via a platform lift (weight limit applies), and screens two and three on the ground floor. Screen five has no wheelchair access but films are rotated each week so there each film is played in an accessible screen (contact the cinema for details). Hearing boost systems are also available and both autism friendly and subtitled screenings are also shown (for both check with the cinema for details). All screens are fully air conditioned. The Plaza is fully licensed enabling drinks to be taken into the screens.<\/p>

All screens are now equipped with Digital NEC projection bar The Lemon Suite which has a Barco projector, and full Dolby Stereo Surround Sound. Screens 1,2 & 3 have 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound whilst Screen 2 has the capability to show 3D movies through the Real D 3D projection system. Screen 2 also has a 35mm projector, enabling the cinema to show 35mm presentations. The cinema appointed its first patron in 2016, with BBC Film Critic Mark Kermode presented at one of his regular \u2018Kermode Presents\u2019 screenings. These screenings are 35mm presentations including an introduction by Mark Kermode, and have recently featured guest appearances from David Holmes, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Duncan Jones.<\/p>

After taking over The Plaza in 1997 it has been the long term ambition of WTW Cinemas to complete the Plaza with a 5th screen. This finally came to fruition in July 2016 with the opening of The Lemon Suite, in the vacant former cafe area of the building on the second floor. Constructed in just 29.5 working days, the screen is fitted with a Barco DP2K-6E projector and Datasat AP-20 processor handling sound and automation. The sound is courtesy of Dolby 5.1 Dirac Theatre Optimisation Surround Sound. The screen is Blu-Ray and DVD compatible as well as having the ability to sync up powerpoint presentation\/Skype conferences and the like.<\/p>

In January 2013 The Plaza commenced live satellite transmissions of theatrical shows, concerts, opera and ballet. These have proved very popular enabling Cornish audiences to see shows from venues such as The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, The National Theatre in London, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Shakespeare Company and many more in the comfort of the Plaza without having to travel long distances.<\/p>

The cinema has been a regular host for regional premieres and one-off screenings. In 2015 the Plaza played host to the premiere of Poldark including a live transmission on BBC Spotlight and a Q&A with the stars and director of the show. The cinema has also hosted the Roughcut 90 Second Film Challenge in association with O-Region and Dogbite Studios, giving local film-makers the opportunity to see their films on the big screen.<\/p>

The Plaza opened in February 1936, and has been operated by WTW Cinemas from July 1998 to present. Uniquely it is a completely \u2018local cinema\u2019 as the Owners, Management and Staff are all either born, educated or live in Truro, a Cornish Enterprise for One And All!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Radio WTW\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cRadio WTW\u201d which plays in our Cinema\u2019s foyers and auditoriums is produced by our partners at\u00a0NIFTY<\/strong>.<\/p>

Want to hear your favourite song while waiting for your film to start? just tweet the Radio WTW team using the hashtag #RadioWTW<\/p>

For more information about\u00a0NIFTY<\/strong>, who specialise in Marketing, Digital Media and Events just visit their website at\u00a0www.getnifty.uk<\/a>\u00a0or find them at @GetNiftyUK on Facebook and Twitter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Advertising at WTW Cinemas<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cinema advertising is a great way to boost your reach and attain new custom. Cinemas utilise many method of advertising \u2013 from the big screen experience with commercials, through to magazine print advertising. All of our advertising methods are contracted to third parties, details of which are as follows.<\/p>

ADVERTISE ON OUR WEBSITE<\/h5>

We work exclusively with \u2018The Film Cooperative\u2019 for our website advertising and do not consider any third party requests for advertising. If you are interested in placing website ads, please visit\u00a0The Film Cooperative<\/a>\u00a0for more details.<\/p>

ADVERTISE IN OUR FOYER<\/h5>

As a key part of the experience, visitors spend on average 16 minutes in the foyer giving your brand great exposure. 50% of visitors are likely to talk about an advert they have seen there resulting in great word-of-mouth for your brand. 55% of visitors are ABC1 and 62% aged between 16 and 44.<\/p>

Please call on 01252 368 368 or email\u00a0sales@boomerangmedia.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0to find out more about how cinema advertising can help your brand reach its desired audience.<\/p>

ADVERTISE IN OUR MAGAZINE<\/h5>

Our in-house magazine, ONSCREEN, is circulated to our cinemas every two months. Local and national advertising opportunities are available. ONSCREEN is produced in partnership with many independent cinema exhibitors, and opportunities exist for further advertisement across all operators. For more information, please contact the team at\u00a0ONSCREEN<\/a>.<\/p>

ADVERTISE ON THE BIG SCREEN<\/h5>

We work exclusively with\u00a0Pearl & Dean<\/a>\u00a0for all onscreen advertising, and cannot play any adverts in our pre-show reels that have not been agreed with them. You can find out more about advertising on the big screen by contacting Pearl & Dean.<\/p>

Email:\u00a0paul.murphy@pearlanddean.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>

CAN I PLACE A POSTER OR LEAFLET ON YOUR PREMISES<\/h5>

We do not offer third party poster advertising in any of our cinemas. Some cinemas may choose to display a limited number of leaflets from third parties \u2013 cinemas always gain clearance from head office before displaying any materials, and this is usually a reciprocal arrangement. Please ask within the cinema for more details.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cinema Facilities<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Designated Wheelchair Spaces (Excluding Screen 5)<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Infra-Red Assisted Hearing Systems<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Audio Description Headsets available<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Subtitles available on compatable films<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Conference Facilities<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Birthday Party Packages<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Auditorium Information<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Screen 1<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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260 Seats<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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MasterImage 3D inc 48\/60 HFR 3D<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dolby 7.1 Sound<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Screen 10.4m x 4.75m<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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NEC 2K Laser Projection<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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