Community Events

The orchestral score, from composer Paul Lewis, has been specially commissioned by Watershed and Bristol Silents for the gala screening of silent classic Pandora's Box.

The event, taking place at the Colston Hall on Saturday, 15 September, will be hosted by actor Paul McGann, a big fan of the film's star, Louise Brooks, and is part of the media centre's 25th birthday celebrations.

Part of Watershed's opening programme of events in 1982 was a special screening of the silent film Napoleon at Bristol's Hippodrome and silent movies have been regularly screened ever since, with the backing of enthusiasts the Bristol Silents, culminating in the annual Slapstick festival.

Two years in the planning, music for the gala event will be performed by members of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, conducted by composer Paul Lewis.

"The score is operatic and the melodies full-blooded," he explained.

"In spite of this I am scoring it for a relatively small orchestra as I believe this gives greater intimacy and a closer connection with the individual characters."

Adapted from the controversial plays of Frank Wedeking, Pandora's Box, released in 1929, stars Louise Brooks as young temptress Lulu who wreaks havoc in the lives of a wealthy newspaper editor, his hapless son and a lovelorn countess.

Chris Daniels of Bristol Silents said: "It's incredible that a film of this standing in world cinema hasn't had an orchestral score composed of this quality or on this scale before.

"Even people who know the film well will be experiencing it for the very first time in this way."

Tickets for the gala event, priced at £20, are now available from the Colston Hall box office on 0117 9223686.

The popular Slapstick silent film event returns to the Watershed from Thursday 17 - Sunday, 20 January 2008.