A former squash court in Morecambe which has been transformed into a movie set will be open to the public as part of the town's film festival.
The set of the short film 'Paint', built inside the former Concorde Squash Club in Morecambe town centre, will be open this Sunday (November 24) as part of The Bay International Film Festival.
You can see it from 10am to 1pm at the building now known as the Queen's Market, on Victoria Street, and admission is free.
The set was crafted in a disused Concorde squash court inside the Queen's Market, on a budget of less than £1,000.
The film, 'Paint', deals with themes of grief, resilience and community spirit, and has been making waves on the national festival circuit, most recently featuring at the London Breeze Film Festival where it was screened at the iconic Battersea Power Station.
The film is about an old man who deals with his grief by painting a room with layer after layer of paint. He hopes that by the time he has completely filled the room, he will have come to terms with life without his wife.
“By collaborating on projects like Paint, we’re showing how grassroots efforts can invigorate Morecambe’s arts sector," said Jack Clarke, producer.
"It all starts with the remarkable work happening at Queen’s Market.”
Nick Smith, the creative set designer of Paint and the powerhouse behind the revival of Queen’s Market, will be the tour guide on Sunday.
"This set isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a symbol of community, art, and resilience," said Nick.
"Being part of The Bay International Film Festival is a reminder of why supporting local talent and spaces is vital.
"It’s not just about one project; it’s about building a foundation for future creativity.”
Mr Smith has been trying for several years to raise funds to reopen the 19th century former market hall, Palladium Cinema, Crystal T's nightclub and Concorde Squash Club as a community building.
His vision is for the Queen's Market to have a wide range of areas for offices, training centres, bars, live venues, recording studios, youth areas, art galleries, food hall, live venues and exhibition spaces.
His bid to raise £1m to fund the project has raised only a fraction of its target, but he continues to press on with his idea for a community hub where local people can go to develop skills in art, performance, science, technology and much more, creating jobs and opportunities to stop young people from leaving Morecambe to seek employment elsewhere.
Attendees on Sunday will walk through the intricacies of set design, learning how an ordinary squash court was reimagined into a vivid film space.
The event will give budding filmmakers and art enthusiasts practical insights into how impactful art can be made with limited resources.
Founded in 2023, The Bay International Film Festival features an array of film screenings, workshops, exhibitions and opportunities to meet filmmakers.
Beyond Radio volunteer Lina Yordanova is managing two exhibitions as part of the festival - a photographic exhibition celebrating the beauty of Morecambe Bay and the works of local photographers, and an exhibition of miniature models, designed by Josh Backhouse.
Visit HERE for the full programme of the festival, which runs at various venues in Morecambe until December 1.
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