Morecambe Winter Gardens

8 & 9 June 2024

Silents by the Sea brings the magic of classic silent film with live music to Morecambe for the weekend of 8th & 9th June 2024. Presented by Northern Silents, the inaugural festival features fascinating talks and captivating live-scored silent cinema, all in the spectacular surroundings of the historic Winter Gardens theatre.

Silents by the Sea opens on Saturday 8th June with a show celebrating the genius of Charlie Chaplin. The evening starts with two of Chaplin’s short comedies accompanied on the piano by celebrated musician and broadcaster Neil Brand. After the interval, the sixteen-piece Northern Silents Sinfonia makes its debut with Lancashire-born conductor Helen Harrison, performing Chaplin’s own score to his 1921 heartwarming comedy, The Kid. Chaplin’s little tramp character is one of the most iconic images in all of cinema, and this special event with live orchestral music will bring this classic film to life.

On Sunday 9th June, the big screen will be taken over by the colourful fantasies of Georges Méliès. The show brings together a selection of Méliès’ creations including his most famous, A Trip to the Moon, along with films by his Spanish counterpart, Segundo de Chomon, and others. The films will be accompanied by musicians from Morecambe, Lancaster and across the North, including Off the Rails Creative Jazz Orchestra and a new vocal ensemble being formed for the festival, The People’s Cinematic Voices. This group is open to everyone, with or without previous experience, and a series of group singing sessions will be running in Morecambe and Lancaster in the lead up to the festival.

The festival finale is the very first dinosaur adventure film, The Lost World. With stop-motion animation by Willis O’Brien, this 1925 classic brings Conan Doyle’s fantastical story to the big screen. Acclaimed improvising quartet Frame Ensemble will breathe fresh life into the giants of this epic film with a mesmerising live musical score.

Festival goers can also enjoy two free talks over the weekend. On Saturday, expert in the neuroscience of comedy Professor Sophie Scott joins Neil Brand to explore the brain and slapstick. Then on Sunday, festival musicians reveal the secrets to making improvised music on the spot.

Tickets and information at silentsbythesea.com

Event information:

Saturday 8 June

Your Brain on Slapstick, 6pm – free

The Kid (including shorts By the Sea & The Cure) [U] 7.30pm – £20 adult, £15 over 60, £10 student, £5 claimant, free 18 & under & carer

Sunday 9 June

Marvellous Méliès: the magician of cinema [U] 2pm  – £12.50 adult, £10 over 60, £7 student, £4 claimant, free 18 & under & carer

On the Spot: making improvised music, 4pm – free

The Lost World [PG] 5.30pm – £15 adult, £12 over 60, £8 student, £4.50 claimant, free 18 & under & carer

Great value festival passes are available including entry to all events on Saturday & Sunday: £40 adult, £30 over 60, £20 student, £10 claimant, free 18 & under & carer.

Also discounted all-day passes for Sunday: £25 adult, £20 over 60, £13.50 student, £7.50 claimant, free 18 & under & carer

All events take place at Morecambe Winter Gardens, 209 Marine Road, Morecambe, LA4 4BU