The 1916 film “The Battle of the Somme” is a compelling documentary record of one of the key battles of the First World War and the first feature-length documentary film record of combat. What is little known is that of the two cameramen who recorded this event, one – Geoffrey Malins – was born, and spent his early working life, in Hastings.
Now, a local audience can share the experience of seeing this silent film as it was originally intended – in good condition, at full length, at the correct speed, and brought to life by a full orchestral accompaniment.
As part of the Battle of the Somme Centenary Tour, the Hastings Sinfonia orchestra, conducted by Derek Carden, will be playing live at a screening of the film, to be shown at 3pm on Sunday May 21 in St Mary-in-the Castle, Hastings, with guest speakers Laura Rossi, the composer, and Dr Toby Haggith, Senior Curator of the Imperial War Museums.
The “Battle of the Somme” film was digitally restored by Imperial War Museums in 2005 and with a new score by the film composer Laura Rossi. Hastings Sinfonia is a local orchestra that has a reputation for performing well-known classical music and opera favourites together with exciting new melodic works. They perform several times a year with outstanding soloists bringing passion and enthusiasm to all of their concerts.
Tickets are £12.50 adults, and £8.50 for under 18s, available on the door or from TicketSource and Hastings Tourist Information Centre.
(Source: Hastings Sinfonia).
Photo: Hastings Sinfonia