The Go Compare Man is one of TV’s most recognisable faces and voices, but before he was Gio Compario and a famous opera singer, actor Wynne Evans grew up with a famous mum who had a link to Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and whose story is now the subject of a new film.
Wynne was part of the Carmarthen Youth Opera in South Wales growing up, but in the early nineties, the Youth Opera’s home at the Lyric Theatre in the town was under threat of demolition.
However his mum, who had been a part of the Youth Opera as a teenager and now ran the group, launched a campaign to save the theatre – with a little help from Hollywood along the way.
(Image: WireImage)
The story is now the subject of a new Sky Cinema film called Save The Cinema, starring Harry Potter actor Tom Felton and newcomer Fflyn Evans as a young Wynne.
Save The Cinema tells the story of Wynne Evans mother Elizabeth Evans and her battle to save The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen from demolition, after the town council planned to knock the building down and build a shopping centre.
(Image: © Sky UK Ltd)
However, Elizabeth refused to leave the theatre and moved in there, meaning the bulldozers could not get into the building and eventually, the theatre was saved.
Talking about reliving the story, Wynne Evans told BBC News that it was emotional, saying: “I’ve got mixed emotions about the time if I’m honest… she just moved into the theatre.”
He also remembered his mum as a strong and determined woman, adding: “I’ve never seen anybody walk into a council meeting and manage to turn the room around like my mother could… they just couldn’t say no to her.”
(Image: © Sky UK Ltd.)
Her campaign has now inspired the new film, with Samantha Morton, who plays Elizabeth Evans in Save The Cinema, adding: “Liz was incredibly inspiring to young people, and she had their backs.
“No matter who you were, once you were in the youth opera, you were in. And she was a tough teacher as well, which I quite like, in that she treated everybody the same.”
(Image: Dimitris Legakis/Athena Pictures)
After saving the theatre from demolition, Elizabeth Evans enlisted the help of the local Carmarthen people, who visited the theatre to watch screenings of old films, in order to build up more revenue for the cinema.
After her sons sent off for a trade magazine, they also had the idea to show a new film in the hope of raising more money for the cinema and to bring audiences into the venue – but they encountered a problem.
(Image: © Sky UK Limited.)
The film that they chose to show was Jurassic Park, but sadly, the film distributors would not send the cinema a copy.
This did not deter Elizabeth however, and with help from the local Mayor’s office, Elizabeth and Mayor Richard Goodridge wrote to Hollywood film director Steven Spielberg.
After hearing their story, Steven Spielberg called the Carmarthen Mayor’s Office and personally offered to send a copy of the film to be shown in the Lyric Theatre, five minutes after the official premiere in London.
(Image: Gordon Maw <gordon@mawcomms.co.uk>)
Stephen Spielberg’s act of kindness and the theatre’s honour of showing the film became headline news, with the Mayor of Carmarthen even invited to discuss the news on Channel 4 programme The Big Breakfast.
The rest, as they say is history, and The Lyric Theatre is still standing strong today in Carmarthen.
Elizabeth Evans was also made an MBE for work and commitment to the arts, but sadly died in 2004, with her sons Wynne, Huw and Mark setting up The Elizabeth Evans Trust following her death.
However, her legacy has been remembered in Save The Cinema, with new generations being introduced to Wynne Evan’s famous mum and her dedication to help a beloved local theatre.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
