'Metropolis' rare cut matinee with score by Joe Harvey-Whyte

Theatreship presents an extraordinary afternoon with a rare cut of the legendary 1927 sci-fi epic Metropolis, accompanied by a unique live musical score performed by Joe Harvey-Whyte. All aboard Theatreship; a performing arts space on a historic ship in the old docks of Canary Wharf, supported by BFI FAN and Broadside Hacks.

Joe Harvey-Whyte is also a multidisciplinary artist working at the cross section between ambient/experimental music, visual art and environmental sound. His solo work combines the sound of the pedal steel guitar with electronics and field recordings to make works that create a space for deep listening and reflection whilst attempting to translate and subtly amplify the quieter moments of everyday life.

Broadside Hacks is a London-based folk collective, record label, and promoter described by Time Out as a "groundbreaking new wave of folk music talent". Founded by Campbell Baum, the group focuses on reimagining traditional and radical folk heritage.

This event is part of Silent Film with New Sound season at Theatreship, curated by Head of Film Natalie Hill.

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery.

Metropolis rare cut

Dur: 60 mins

Nearly a century after its release, Metropolis remains cinema’s most ambitious vision of the future. Fritz Lang’s groundbreaking silent epic depicts a dystopian city where the wealthy elite live in luxury towers while workers toil in underground factories. When the privileged Freder discovers the harsh reality below, he becomes entangled in a revolutionary plot involving a mysterious woman named Maria and a sinister robot double.

This special presentation features a rare cut of the film, as explained by James Fennell (collector and owner of this rare print);

“This version of Metropolis differs significantly from the modern restorations of the film. It runs at a brisk 60 minutes and features some footage not found in any other version of the film… During the production of Metropolis, as was common practice with many silent films of the era, multiple original camera negatives were assembled. These were not simply duplicate prints, but rather parallel negatives made using different takes and occasionally different camera angles. In the case of Metropolis, three master negatives were created: two intended for European distribution and one for the United States. This process minimised generation loss, as repeated copying from a single negative could significantly degrade image quality.

The modern restored version of Metropolis, widely circulated today, is based primarily on material from the surviving U.S. distribution negative. In contrast, the version presented here, was derived from one of the now long-lost European negatives. As a result, there are some notable differences in performance and shot composition. It is, in a very real sense, a different version of the film. While it may feel rough around the edges, with dirt and scratches from 90 years of projection, these are part of the object’s history. This print has likely passed through countless hands, projected in living rooms across decades, and now finds a new audience in digital form.”

This event is part of Silent Film with New Sound season at Theatreship.

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery.

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The venue opens at 2pm for drinks in the bar. Please arrive before 3pm to allow time to enter the theatre and settle in! There is no allocated seating. Under-18s must be accompanied by a guardian.

Theatreship is committed to broadening access to the arts - we know that ticket price is a huge barrier for some. If the regular ticket price is beyond what you feel able to afford for whatever reason, please don't hesitate to email us at tickets@theatreship.co.uk and we will do everything we can to help, no questions asked.

We also offer arts supporter tickets, for those that can, to pay a higher price to support the venue, the artists who perform here and subsidised tickets for others.

Due to the historic nature of the ship, we’re sorry to say there is not currently step-free access into the theatre space. We have dedicated staff on hand to help with stairs, and an onsite wheelchair once you’re inside the venue. If you have any access needs, please do e-mail us at access@theatreship.co.uk.