Cinemas in Singapore have been closing for a while now, which makes it feel worth paying attention when a new space tries to do something different with the format. The newly opened Dreamers Hall at Shaw Theatres JEM is the fourth addition to their family friendly cinemas, and it is clear that their approach of engaging the young ones – including a playground in a movie theatre – is working.
Dreamers @ Shaw: Playground in a Movie Theatre
Unlike your usual cinema halls, Dreamers Hall has a playground structure built right into the hall – clearly intended to cater to kids.
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Rope towers are connected by rope tunnels and clearly meant for kids to climb rather than sitting still during the pre-movie ads.
Parents can see straight through it from their seats, so there is no need to hover. Do note that anti-slip socks are required for both kids and adults entering.
The playground at the Shaw Dreamer’s Hall at Jem is the work of CT-Art Creation.
Family-Friendly, Comfy Bean Bag Seating
The regular cinema chairs are replaced with beanbags, scattered loosely enough that families can actually pile in together like a typical movie night at home.
The sound is turned down slightly, the lighting kept gentler than a standard screening, and somehow that is enough to make the whole hall feel more cosy.
It is a small shift, but it matters in creating a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for young children to enjoy the movie.
Shaw’s Dreamers Hall: A Place for Families to Relax
What Shaw is really selling at Dreamers Hall is not the beanbags or the play structure. It is time where parents do not have to manage their child for the comfort of strangers.
In a normal cinema, that management starts before the film even begins, such as the quiet negotiations to sit still and the readiness to scoop a child out at the first sign of trouble.
None of that is needed at Shaw’s kid-friendly cinema hall. A bit of noise or fidgeting is not something to apologise for.
It is simply part of how the space works, and that alone might be worth the ticket price for a lot of parents.
Does your child want to watch the movie from inside the ball pit? Sure, why not?
Centro: Gelato that You can Take into the Hall
Worth a mention too: Centro, the gelato and dessert bar just outside the halls, lets you bring your order straight in with you.
Choose from 18 gelato flavors, including salted caramel popcorn and chrysanthemum with chocolate nibs.
Whether this is the future of cinema or just a clever play area with a screen attached, it is hard to argue with the result: a family actually wanting to go to the movies again. It is easy to stay home and stream something instead, but Shaw’s Dreamers Hall just makes leaving the house feel worth it.
Where: Shaw Theatres Jem, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, JEM, #05-04, Singapore 608549
Website: Shaw Theatres
If you are visiting Jem, you may also be interested to learn more about the free shopping mall playground, which is also located on the same floor as Shaw Theatres.
