As a trust port, Montrose Port Authority is committed to giving back to the local community in Montrose and the wider Angus area. Throughout the year we support a number of charities and local causes, but one initiative that really warms our heart every December is our annual primary school Christmas cinema trips.

For the last three years, we’ve treated every primary school pupil from all six of Montrose’s  primary schools to a festive visit to Montrose Playhouse, spreading a little bit of Christmas cheer to all children in the community and showing our support for our local schools.

The cinema trips aren’t just about the magic of the movies as we understand that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for many families in our area. No child should go without joy at Christmas – that’s why we invite every single Montrose primary school pupil to come along, and we hope to put a smile on each of their faces at a time of year which can be challenging for many.

The pupils get a choice of films to watch, and this year choices included 2023’s Wonka – a reimagining of the classic Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. These magical films were perfect for this special time of year, featuring lots of laughs, catchy songs, and touching stories of friendship. On top of the film, every pupil was treated to some snacks and juice, completing the cinema experience.

These trips are made even more special as they also support a local grassroots organisation – The Montrose Playhouse, a cinema and charity which was built in the town’s former swimming pool following an incredible fundraising effort and construction project that was spear-headed by a group of local volunteers. We have been the Playhouse’s box office sponsor since its grand opening in 2021, showing our support for their mission to bring arts, culture and heritage to everyone in the area through their wide range of community screenings and events, including the latest blockbusters.

We extended our sponsorship in 2023, becoming the sponsor of all community screenings. These screenings cater to various groups, including new parents, those with dementia, individuals with sensory difficulties or learning impairments, those who are deaf or hard of hearing, individuals over 60, and those from low-income households. 

The primary school Christmas cinema trips wouldn’t be possible without the team at Montrose Playhouse and the brilliant teachers and staff who accompany the pupils on these trips. We’d like to thank them for giving up their time to ensure the continued provision of these visits and the difference that they make.

Each school has been in touch with photos and we even received a short highlight video of one of the visits as well as some lovely hand-drawn thank you cards. We appreciate all the schools sending these to us and are glad that all the pupils and staff enjoyed their Christmas trips. Take a look at the gallery below: