Good afternoon,
We're wrapping up the guest list for next Tuesday's fundraiser and book launch at London's Cinema Museum and would love you to join the 70 other guests who have kindly sent an RSVP. There will be a drinks reception, guided tour of the fabulous museum (the work house where Charlie Chaplin went as a child, and a monument of great importance to anyone interested in cinema), a Q&A and presentation by Laurie Marsh, one of the UK's most prolific philanthropists, who has to date decided to hover under the radar despite being involved in creating funds in excess of £500 million for charities and organisations in need (including the Cinema Museum, Water Aid, Medecins Sans Frontier and theatres around the world) since turning his back on corporate greed in 1979.
The evening starts at 1800, ends around 2030, and it will be a wonderful opportunity to meet Laurie and hear first hand about his incredible life story.
Please RSVP via email or by clicking https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-philanthropists-tale-an-evening-with-laurie-marsh-tickets-26701488872.
Thanks so much,
Helen Lewis
Literally PR Ltd
An Evening With Laurie Marsh at The Cinema Museum, October 4th, 1800-2030
Invitation to meet and interview Laurie Marsh, one of the UK's most prolific philanthropists, who has dedicated the past 60+ years to saving theatres from ruin (from the West End to New York to his current project - the Mill Theatre in Oxford)
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-philanthropists-tale-an-evening-with-laurie-marsh-tickets-26701488872As the stories in his new autobiography - The Philanthropist's Tale (Urbane Publications) - show, Laurie Marsh been tremendously fortunate in his career which spans more than 60 years. As well as befriending leading ladies including Joanna Lumley, Diana Rigg and Linda Thorson, he's enjoyed a Passover Dinner with Frank Sinatra, and met, and been close friends with, some of the best-known names in theatre, film and commerce, from entertainers such as Larry Hagman, Tom Conti, Richard Attenborough, Brian Rix and Ray Cooney, the Wiere Brothers and Boris Karloff, to businessmen at the top of their profession such as Harold Furst, Eric Reynolds, and Jack Rose.
In The Philanthropist's Tale, he's told the full and frank story of how he built up his businesses and became involved in the heady world of show business. Long fascinated by the theatre, Laurie's property business took over The Windmill Theatre in 1964 (when he was just 34), and from then on he was devoted to working on creatively saving theatres from financial ruin. He even offered a few talented young freelance musicians (such as Julian Lloyd Webber) their first big break. Laurie was also the co-producer (alongside Michael White) on the Rocky Horror Show. He agreed to convert the Classic Cinema in Kings Road, which meant the show had to be rewritten to fit its new 230-seat venue, and ran on a bigger scale than its previous four-week run in a 60-seat theatre, between August and November 1973. The show was successful Laurie decided to agree to a further transfer to his new Cinema acquisition, also in Chelsea, the Essoldo. By November, it had won the Evening Standard Award for best musical, and The Rocky Horror Show went from strength to strength after that, thanks to Laurie's vision for its future.
It would be fabulous if you could join us with a guest for the launch of his new book and to be part of the special Q&A event scheduled for Tuesday October 4th2016 from 1800-2030. We can arrange for you to have a one-to-one interview with Laurie at the Cinema Museum before or during the event, or of course work to suit you. Laurie lives just off the Abbey Road in London and is happy to meet there or in London to discuss his incredible life story with you plus the work he's doing at the moment to save theatres nationally such as The Mill at Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire*.
Here are more details about the event, which also provides the opportunity to RSVP directly (you can specify how many tickets you need):https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-philanthropists-tale-an-evening-with-laurie-marsh-tickets-26701488872
‘Theatre, film gossip, insider stories - AND - a ground-breaking approach to supporting our essential services by sustaining our arts and culture - what's not to love? Laurie Marsh is an exciting and innovative economic thinker and doer - and what he does works!'
Martin Humphries, Director The Cinema Museum, Elephant & Castle, Lambeth/ Southwark borders
We'd love to see you there and introduce you the fabulous Laurie Marsh! If you're unable to attend, but you're interested in the book/meeting Laurie another time please let us know.
Kind regards,
Helen Lewis
Director - Literally PR Ltd
* Extract re. The Mill at Sonning
"My target is to create a long-term income for The Mill Theatre at Sonning Eye in order to support future productions. I know from experience that a theatre that size could never make pro t from ticket sales alone. My proposals are designed to create a sufficiently large capital sum to pay off accumulated debt and also to provide funding for bringing the whole theatre interior and exterior up to 21st century standards. If all goes to plan, the venue will continue to be the most important arts facility in this highly desirable area of England. As I write, I have a sense of how successful this project might be. The Mill's esteemed neighbour George Clooney is already helping out."