Science Museum to reveal newly refurbished IMAX theatre

The Science Museum in South Kensington is set to open its newly refurbished IMAX theatre by autumn 2021.

Following a brief pause due to the museum-wide closure in 2020 as a result of Covid-19, work was able to continue behind the scenes to fully refresh the space after its 20 years of operation.

Boasting brand new state-of-the-art technology, the IMAX theatre will house a 3D laser projector alongside its classic film projector, enabling the best of digital and analogue film to be showcased in a setup only available in eight theatres around the world.

New and improved AV facilities, including 12-channel surround sound, will enhance the museum’s event capabilities in the space, with a newly refurbished auditorium to match. Complete with spacious seating and a fresh, striking colour scheme, the visitor experience will be further improved, with a new concessions area and events facilities, including a green room, to ensure the museum can continue to host stand-out events for years to come.

With much of the old staging and furniture stripped out to make way for the new facilities, the museum has focussed heavily on meeting sustainability goals, with the donation of 440 old cinema chairs to charities and the old secondary projector to an independent cinema, as well as careful review of the food and packaging available in the concessions area.

Jodie Guilford, Business Development & Marketing Manager at the Science Museum, said: “As we prepare to reopen the museum as a whole to the public and resume our busy calendar of events, we are so excited to be able to reveal our new and improved IMAX theatre – complete with the latest technology. Whether as a standalone venue or in conjunction with one of the museum’s plethora of unique spaces on offer, our clients are sure to maximise its usage and we can’t wait to see what event concepts the IMAX will inspire.

“Income generated from events also goes back into maintaining the museum’s world-famous collection, and the IMAX will be perfectly equipped for a multitude of events, from speaker sessions and private screenings to large-scale multi-room celebrations.”