Cormoran Strike actor Tom Burke recently hosted an evening at the Cinema Museum in Kennington, London. The building was once a workhouse where Charlie Chaplin lived as a child. The museum is entirely run by volunteers (very nice people!) Unfortunately, the museum is under threat of closure, so Tom Burke has stepped in to help fundraise to save it.
“London’s Cinema Museum is devoted to keeping alive the spirit of cinema from the days before the multiplex. Set in historic surroundings in Kennington, close to the Elephant & Castle, the Cinema Museum houses a unique collection of artefacts, memorabilia and equipment that preserves the history and grandeur of cinema from the 1890s to the present day.”
The evening with Tom Burke started with a glass of prosecco, given out to visitors as they entered the museum. I was walking up the stairs of the museum when I bumped into Tom halfway up. We had a brief chat about when we’d met in Masham for the filming of Strike, and he also mentioned he’d check out our website StrikeFans.com!
Soon after, he came into the main room to talk to us at the bar (I’d already ordered a pint of Doom Bar) and chatted with us about his upcoming play, “Don Carlos.”
We then took our seats in front of a screen and stage before Tom came up to give an introduction before watching his film of choice: The ‘Burbs – an ‘80s movie starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher.
After the movie, there was a Q&A, with questions specifically about the movie and his acting projects. When asked about Strike and working with J.K. Rowling, he said it was good of Jo to give them the space and freedom when making the TV series.
After the Q&A, Tom signed posters and greeted fans. I managed to get him to sign a few copies of The Cuckoo’s Calling (one which will likely be available in a StrikeFans.com giveaway soon).
I asked Tom about the next Strike; he said he hasn’t managed to get his hands on an early manuscript of Lethal White (of course, with a J.K. Rowling novel, it’s going to be ridiculously secret), but that he was due to possibly meet up with Jo soon for a chat. He added that they probably won’t be filming the next Strike episodes until the end of next year (2019), which could mean a release date sometime in 2020.
The Cinema Museum has a free petition you can sign to help save it, here, and you can visit their website at www.cinemamuseum.org.uk.
Please visit the museum if you can; they appreciate all the love and support you can give; they are super friendly people and you will be greeted warmly.
Read more about what Tom Burke has been up to in our recent post here.