AS PART of their 2012 US Tour, the UK’S Playbox Theatre will perform “Metropolis Remix” – described as a ‘dynamic, multi-dimensional remix’ of the classic silent film for two nights only, Thursday and Friday November 1 and 2 at 7pm at the Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th Street in Santa Monica.
Originally released in Weimar Germany in 1927, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is set in a futuristic urban dystopia, and follows the attempts of Freder, the wealthy son of the city’s ruler, and Maria, whose background is not fully explained in the film, to overcome the vast gulf separating the classist nature of their city. Although it met with a mixed critical reception on its release it is now considered a landmark of cinema and remains hugely influential on filmmakers to this day. Leading critic Roger Ebert noted that “Metropolis is one of the great achievements of the silent era, a work so audacious in its vision and so angry in its message that it is, if anything, more powerful today than when it was made.”
Metropolis Remix is written and directed by Stewart McGill with film and digital media design by Kris Vankay and Juliet McGill, and is described as ‘a dynamic, multi-disciplinary remix of the silent movie, that honors its creation while also dazzling audiences’ with an explosion of circus, physical theatre, music, text and film.
Playbox Theatre is a creative organization developing theatre for and with young people. Founded in 1986 Playbox, from its own custom designed complex in Warwick, serves young artists and audiences across the Warwickshire and West Midlands regions with training and performance studios supporting its main creative base. It aims to ‘develop the skills, talent and confidence of young people in the performance arts through exciting and innovative methods. Playbox Theatre places at its heart young people as artists and audience.’
Among the members of the Playbox Theatre performing the production are Liz Atherton, Tom Briggs, Sarah Case, Amy Corcoran, Minnie Crook, Izzie Cutts, Will Dolan, Emily Hockaday, Cora James, Kate Lee, Scott Lenton, Emma Blacklay Piech, Sam O`Donnell, Holly Sherlock, Joe Sidebotham, Joe Singer, Ben Webber, Alice Woodhouse and Laura Woodhouse.
Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $12.50 for young people 12 and under $10 for groups of 8 or more. Recommended for ages 8 and up. For reservations please call: 310-394-9779 x 1 or visit: http://santamonicaplayhouse.com/
