Classic films will make a comeback at Capitol Theatre from February 2026, marking the first regular film programme at the venue since its restoration and reopening in 2015. The series, titled Classics at Capitol, will present restored digital versions of well-known films from cinema history, curated by film lecturer and writer Ben Slater.
Classics at Capitol will run from February 22, 2026, to April 28, 2026. Each month will centre on one film, presented across a limited number of screenings. Selected sessions will include introductions by film specialists or invited guests. The programme aims to reintroduce audiences to older films in a shared cinema setting.
The programme opens with three films from different genres. February features Singin’ in the Rain from 1952, followed in March by Lawrence of Arabia from 1962. April screenings will focus on North by Northwest from 1959. Each title will be shown in a restored digital format.
Capitol Theatre opened in 1930 and was built by M A Namazie. It was developed as a venue for sound films and later operated by the Shaw Brothers from 1946. Over several decades, it hosted film premieres, festivals and visiting actors. Unlike many other cinemas in Singapore, it remained a single auditorium until it closed in 1998. The building was restored and reopened in 2015 as a venue for performances and events.
Singin’ in the Rain, directed by Stanley Donen, runs for 103 minutes and will be screened in February. The film stars Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds and is set during Hollywood’s transition from silent films to sound.
Lawrence of Arabia, directed by David Lean, runs for 222 minutes and will be screened with an intermission. The version shown is based on the 1989 restoration and includes additional footage. The film stars Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif and Alec Guinness.
North by Northwest, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, runs for 136 minutes and stars Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. The film follows an advertising executive mistaken for a spy.
For more information, visit Capitol Theatre.
