The idea
Silents by the Sea is a festival of silent film with live music taking place on 6th and 7th September 2025 in Morecambe. We will bring together amateur and professional musicians and a selection of silent films including Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, early cartoons including Felix the Cat, and films from the amazing imagination of animator Max Fleischer. Comedian and silent film fan Paul Merton will host opening night with further special guests to be announced.
Musicians from Morecambe and Lancaster will join players from further afield to bring these films alive with new music. And an improvising choir, open to all, whether or not you think you can sing, will use the human voice to create atmospheric sound for film. We'll run taster sessions in the weeks leading up the festival to enable the widest possible range of people to get involved.
Silents by the Sea is a unique blend of performance and community participation, and it all takes place in the beautiful Winter Gardens.
What we'll deliver
- An accessible, engaging weekend festival of live music & film, with events for all the family
- Opportunities for volunteering and work experience for young people & adults interested in the arts
- A taster session for anyone interested in joining the improvising community choir
- Two workshop rehearsals for the improvising community choir
Why it's a great idea
Silents by the Sea will create opportunities for amateur & professional local musicians to develop skills and perform live film scores together. The festival will be accessible, with free tickets for all 18-and-unders, and lots of low-cost tickets for adults. We’ll show films which will entertain and engage all the family, and introduce audiences to the early history of film-making. Free workshops singers, amateur and professional, will enable local talent to be fully involved in making music for the festival. Music brings people together and playing music can develop our confidence and improve our mental health - that’s why Silents by the Sea brings together both people who make music for pleasure and professional players. Silents by the Sea will also contribute to the revival of Morecambe Winter Gardens as a nationally significant centre of culture and entertainment.
Steps to get it done
- Full festival activity programme confirmed by May 30th 2025
- Festival weekend 6-7 September 2025
- Evaluation complete 10 October 2025
