Marvellous Méliès: the magician of cinema

Immerse yourself in a musical cornucopia of fantastical adventures, mind-teasing illusions, and shimmering visions from the very beginnings of cinema.

The films

In December 1895, a young Paris magician attended the first demonstration of moving pictures - a year later, Georges Méliès had built his own camera and started to experiment. But rather than record ordinary life as so many early film makers were content to do, Méliès unleashed his imagination, creating bizarre and beautiful cinematic visions of aliens and angels, shooting stars and space travel.

Silents by the Sea brings together a selection of Méliès’ creations, including his most famous, A Trip to the Moon, side by side with films by his Spanish counterpart, Segundo de Chomon, and others.

Hosted by broadcaster and composer Neil Brand, with an introduction by Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Chair of Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust.

The music

A smorgasbord of musical talent from Morecambe, Lancaster, and around the north of England will bring this show to life, including Off the Rails Creative Jazz Orchestra, Frame Ensemble, Neil Brand, and Silents by the Sea’s new vocal group, The People’s Cinematic Voices.

Films include: A Trip to the Moon (Méliès 1902), Four Troublesome Heads (Méliès 1898), Professor Do Mi Sol Do (Méliès 1906), The Nightmare (Méliès 1896), Joan of Arc (Méliès 1900), The House of Ghosts (Segundo de Chomon 1906), Symphonie Bizarre (Segundo de Chomon 1906).

Film Ratings: U

Doors 1.30pm, show starts 2pm

Part of Silents by the Sea 2024. Great value festival passes (Saturday & Sunday) can be booked here. And discounted all-day passes (Sunday) can be booked here.