How to create the ultimate Somerville outdoor movie experience

An integral part of Perth Festival, the annual Lotterywest Films season at UWA’s Somerville auditorium is Perth’s ultimate outdoor movie experience and a great way to enjoy world-class arthouse films from around the globe. The first and most important tip is to plan and book ahead. Each Monday there is a new movie and on weekends or for really popular movies, tickets can sell out weeks in advance. Check out our complete guide below to the movies showing this season and book now. For picnickers, doors open at 6pm, however, we would advise arriving 15 to 20 minutes early to get front row seats. Reserve your deck chairs and bean bags before moving to the grassed area or benches for a bite to eat.

Image Credit: Jess Wyld

Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and drink but we recommend ordering a pizza from Charlies. The only food vendor on the premises, Charlies Pizza is one of the highlights of the Somerville experience. The pizzas have an outstandingly thin crust and are served on hardwood platters. In addition to pizza, Charlies also serves a range of other food including delicious salmon salads, grazing boards and pasta. See the full menu here. There is also a fully licensed bar for you to enjoy beer, wine or spirits with your dinner. The bar stays open right up until the start of the movie so you can grab one last drink to enjoy while you sit back and watch.

Image Credit: Dan Grant

In terms of seating, the deckchairs are comfortable but can be hard on your back. Pillows are available but limited so we recommend you bring your own. There are also bean bags set up on the grass right in front of the screen however be wary, depending on one’s age it may be hard to straighten your back at the end of the film. A risk worth taking though as you’ll have the best seats in the house. Somerville is considered one of the best spots in Perth to escape the summer heat with the breezy pine trees providing great cover. We do encourage bringing a blanket or jacket as the nights get cooler after the sun has set. Currently, all films kick off at 8pm sharp, however, as of March 7 films will start at 7.30pm. Depending on the day, the weather and the movie, tickets can sell out weeks in advance, so always check and buy online rather than on-site. If you’re a concession card holder enjoy cheap Tuesdays with $11 tickets bought at the door. At the time of writing this blog, masks were required and likely to be required for the duration of the 2022 season. Updated Covid safety protocols can be found here.

Check out the complete list of Somerville films