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Thames Community Invited to Celebrate East of Eden with Special Free Screening
Thames residents are invited to step into the world of East of Eden and celebrate the town's role in the upcoming Netflix series at a special free community screening next month.
East of Eden Day will be held at the Left Bank Theatre, Thames, on Wednesday 7 October, with a screening of the first episode beginning at 6.30pm. The event takes place just one week after the seven-part limited series premieres globally on Netflix.
Based on John Steinbeck's acclaimed novel, East of Eden stars Florence Pugh and was filmed at locations throughout New Zealand, including Devonport, Ōamaru, Dunedin and Thames. Local landmarks such as the Thames School of Mines and A&G Price feature in the production, helping bring early 1900s California to life on screen.
The screening is a chance for the community to celebrate Thames' contribution to a major international production and see the series' opening episode on the big screen.
Our Council worked closely with the production team and local stakeholders to help facilitate filming in Thames. Staff assisted by coordinating filming permits and approvals, supporting traffic management and temporary road closures, facilitating access to Council-owned sites and reserves, connecting the production team with local businesses, contractors and community organisations, and helping ensure filming activities were delivered safely and efficiently. Council's Economic Development team also acted as a key liaison between the production company and the wider community, helping showcase Thames as an attractive location for future screen productions.
"A production of this scale puts the whole Waikato region on the radar of international studios, and it's brilliant to see Thames sharing in that spotlight," said Erin Griffiths, Attraction and Facilitation Lead at Waikato Screen. "Visitors coming to see the locations and experience Thames are a win for local businesses, and that international exposure can help us attract the next big production."
Attendees are encouraged to dress in their best early-1900s-inspired or East of Eden-themed costumes, with everyone who arrives in costume going into the draw to win a prize on the night.
As seating at the Left Bank Theatre is limited to just 26 seats, bookings are essential and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free, with a maximum of two seats per booking.
To reserve a seat, email matt@waikatoscreen.nz by 1 October 2026.
Please note: This is a one-off community screening and not a theatrical release. The full series will be available to stream globally on Netflix from 1 October 2026.
