Imagine going to the cinema and becoming part of a pop-up orchestra who create sound FX and a musical soundtrack! Each Enchanted Cinema show starts with a warm up led by a professional musician using your voice, hands and feet before moving onto shakers, cymbals, recorders, guiros, a gong, xylophone and other ingenious foley FX to create the magical soundtrack.
The Orchestra of Seasons Tour features some of the best-loved animation from the last 70 years including…
Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman (1982)
Magically re-create the sound FX of an owl, bauble, toothbrush, musical box, running tap, feet jumping through the snow, or tearaway motorbike before enjoying Dianne Jackson’s animated classic. Don’t forget to warm-up the chorister within for your moment to soar above the houses- We’re walking in the air!
Lotte Reineger’s Ant & Grasshopper (1954)
Celebrating its 70th birthday, this fun, visually lovely sillhouette animation of the Aesop’s Fable comes with a bluegrass fiddling grasshopper from us and dancing frogs, caterpillars, mice and squirrels from you as the foolish grasshopper ignores advice to prepare for the coming winter.
My Neighbour Totoro (1988)
Capture the magical growth of Spring and the rainy season of tsuyu (梅雨) in two much-loved scenes from Studio Ghibli’s most famous animation. Become popping seeds, rain drops on an umbrella, a rumbling catbus, a giant spinning top or the sound of book pages flapping in the wind. Come prepared with your largest catbus Miaow!
Seasons (1969)
This rare, beautifully-crafted animation inspired by Tchaikovsky’s Seasons reveals a stunning stop-frame world layered in lace, golden leaves transforming into fish or ice creatures bursting into snow as a couple’s sleigh glides past colourful fairs and into the icy moons of winter.
venues
Child Okeford Village Hall (Artsreach)- 30 Nov
Hythe Parish Hall (Culture in Common) – 1st Dec
National Archives, Kew – 7th Dec
Gloucester Guildhall – 8th Dec
Bright Foundation (Hastings) – 11-14th Dec
Horniman Museum and Gardens – 3-5 Jan
Turner Sims, Southampton – 2nd Feb
faqS
Does every child get to do something?
If they want to – yes! Just make sure we know if you need a sound FX/ instrument by raising your hand.
My child might not want to join in.
No problem at all! Many children like to sit back and watch or join in with bits and bobs. It’s very much a team effort so they shouldn’t feel too much on the spot if they do or don’t join in.
My child has additional needs.
Our shows are very inclusive and kids with additional or SEND enjoy them a lot. Shows have several noisy parts, in case this helps.
Can my child try out instruments if they didn’t get a chance to?
Yes! At the end (and given time), we warmly invite children up to stage to try out different instruments.
Can I take photos?
Phones off and tucked away please, but please feel free take pics of your child with instruments at the end.
I don’t have / can’t borrow a child – can I still come?
Absolutely! The Enchanted Cinema is for lovers of animation, live music & live foley FX of all ages.
Is there somewhere to give feedback?
Indeed! We have a public comments book and also a google form. We value all feedback.
Watch the trailers!
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Images: Bob White (IW Story Festival), Alice Denny (Bright Foundation) & The Enchanted Cinema
