Harry Potter fans are in for a magical evening this summer as a film of his first story is being shown at Corfe Castle – with a special train service laid on by the Swanage Railway to and from the event.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will be screened in the grounds of the castle on Friday August 23 as part of this year’s Purbeck Film Festival.
The film – the first in the series of seven titles written by JK Rowling – follows Harry’s first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he discovers he is a talented wizard.
Gates will open to the public at 8pm and the film will finish at around 11.15pm, with audience members able to walk the short distance to Corfe Castle station to complete their evening travelling on a heritage diesel train to Swanage.
A similar arrangement is being made on Saturday August 24, when Wonka will be screened in the Castle Grounds, finishing slightly earlier at around 10.45pm.
Swanage Railway Company chairman Gavin Johns said: “The Swanage Railway is delighted to be working with the Purbeck Film Festival’s dedicated volunteers in their presentation of these great films against the backdrop of Corfe Castle’s dramatic ruins by providing evening heritage diesel trains from Swanage and Norden – the latter next to the Purbeck Park long-stay car park – so film enthusiasts and families can enjoy the popular event without the hassle of parking in Corfe Castle.”
Claire Burns from the film festival said: “We hope the mixture of a heritage train ride and watching a Harry Potter film in such beautiful surroundings will cast a wonderful spell over everyone attending the event, as well as the treat of watching Wonka.
“It promises to be a special weekend and a great curtain raiser to the full festival programme later in the year.”
This will be Purbeck Film Festival’s biggest outdoor cinema season with 7 great films in 5 exceptional venues: Saturday 3rd August, Barbie, by the (pink-lit) swimming pool at Knoll House Hotel in Studland; Saturday 17th August, Ghostbusters, at Durlston Country Park; At Corfe Castle, Harry Potter on Friday 23rd and Wonka on Saturday 24th August; Saturday 31st August, Calendar Girls at Careys Secret Garden near Wareham and at The Blue Pool Nature Reserve, A Room with a View on Friday 6th September and Moulin Rouge! on Saturday 7th September.
The main festival runs from Friday October 18 to Sunday November 3. Details are on the festival’s website – purbeckfilm.com.
