ACTOR Max Harwood, who has landed the lead role in an upcoming Disney film, has revealed he is saddened to hear the uncertain future of Basingstoke’s Odeon cinema, where he worked from the age of 16.

The Basingstoke-raised actor, who is set to become one of 2021's biggest breakout stars, has worked at the Odeon cinema at the Leisure Park “before going off to pursue acting”.

Max, 23, is playing the title role in Disney's upcoming film adaptation of West End musical ‘Everybody's Talking About Jamie’.

It would have been a personal highlight for the gay star if he got to watch his debut film at a cinema he worked at.

However, it was revealed last week that the future of Basingstoke's Odeon cinema is uncertain after its owner effectively declared itself bankrupt.

Slough Borough Council, which owns the cinema, issued a section 114 notice – meaning it could now sell off its property investment portfolio to raise funds.

Reacting to the Gazette’s report, Max tweeted: “This is so incredibly sad, Basingstoke Gazette.

“I worked at this cinema from the age of 16 before going off to pursue acting. I dreamed of my face being up on these screens…what a full circle moment that would have been at Odeon Cinemas.”

 

Slough Borough Council bought the Odeon cinema for just over £8 million in 2019.

The council, however, has been under government review following two damning audit reports in their 2018/19 accounts by external auditors Grant Thornton LLP, earlier this year.

In their highly critical reports, they found the council had insufficient capacity and skills within the finance department, inadequate preparation of financial statements, inadequate general and earmarked revenue reserves, and inadequate governance, monitoring, and controls over outside groups and companies.

In ‘Everybody's Talking About Jamie’, Max is playing the role of Jamie New, a 16-year-old boy set on becoming a drag queen.

Basingstoke Gazette: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie stars Max Harwood, Noah Thomas, Layton Williams and John McCrea united to mark the musical’s 1,000th performance (Photo: PA - Dave Benett/Getty Images for NIMAX)Everybody’s Talking About Jamie stars Max Harwood, Noah Thomas, Layton Williams and John McCrea united to mark the musical’s 1,000th performance (Photo: PA - Dave Benett/Getty Images for NIMAX)

Max has studied at Bishop Challoner School, followed by Queen Mary's College where he completed theatre studies, art photography, music technology and history at A-level.

Later he attended a one-year foundation course in musical theatre at The Guildford School Of Acting in Surrey. He trained for two more years in London, at The Urdang Academy, before landing the big role in his debut feature film.