Big screen cinema makes a return to Stone

Classic Christmas movies will kick off big screen cinema at Crown Wharf Theatre in Stone this December.

It will be the first time Stone has had a cinema since the closure of The Picture House in the High Street almost 50 years ago. Many people in the town have fond memories of seeing films there so, fittingly, the cinema at Crown Wharf Theatre will be called… The Picture House.

During the work to fit out the theatre and get it ready for opening, a drop-down cinema screen and professional projector, alongside a world-class sound system, were installed. This was to ensure that cinema would be a key part of the venue’s programming.

Here are the festive films that are lined up for the big screen in December to launch The Picture House:

• Sunday 22 December: 11:30 – Home Alone (PG) /  19:30 – Die Hard (18)
• Tuesday 24 December: 13:00 – Elf (PG) 
• Sunday 29 December: 11:30 – The Polar Express (PG) / 19:30 – Love Actually (15) 

Tickets are £6 (£5 concessions).

In 2025, The Picture House at Crown Wharf Theatre will be screening regular films covering all genres. Plus, from February, the theatre will be bringing National Theatre Live to Stone, starting with ‘Nye’, starring Michael Sheen, on 9 February, followed by ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ with Ncuti Gatwa on 9 March. A full schedule of NT Live screenings will be announced very shortly.

But it’s not just about cinema this December.

• The theatre’s first panto, ‘Treasure Island’, runs from 4 to 7 December in a sold-out run.
• Theatre1 present ‘The Last Five Years’ on 13 and 14 December, a stunning, time-twisting musical drama featuring full six-piece band. Limited tickets remaining.
• Musical Youth Theatre Stafford present their Christmas show, ‘I’m Dreaming of a MYTS Christmas’ on 15 December.

Plus, on Friday 17 January, The Agenda comedy club that’s usually staged in the Crown Wharf boardroom moves into the theatre for a special night of laughs with Tony Law, Silky and The Traitors’ Hannah Byczkowski.

Tickets for all cinema screenings, stage productions and comedy nights are always available at www.crownwharftheatre.org.uk – where you can also sign up for email updates to be the first to know about new shows and events.