A SPECIAL screening of the 1916 film The Battle of the Somme will be shown at Sedbergh next month.

Sedbergh Orchestra will be performing live as the film is shown at St Andrew's Parish Church on Saturday July 8, at 7.30pm.

The performance is part of the Somme100 FILM project. It aims to bring together 100 live orchestral screenings of the film to audiences worldwide between July 2016 and July 2017 to mark 100 years since the battle.

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The original film shot by Geoffrey Malins and J B McDowell has been set to a new score by critically-acclaimed composer, Laura Rossi.

It remains one of the most successful British films ever made. It is estimated more than 20 million tickets were sold in Great Britain in the first two months of release, and the film was distributed world-wide to demonstrate to allies and neutrals Britain’s commitment to the First World War.

The film gave its 1916 audience an unprecedented insight into the realities of trench warfare, controversially including the depiction of dead and wounded soldiers. It shows scenes of the build-up to the infantry offensive including the massive preliminary bombardment, coverage of the first day of the battle -the bloodiest single day in Britain’s military history - and depictions of the small gains and massive costs of the attack.

Sedbergh Orchestra will be accompanying the showing of the film at Skipton Town Hall on Sunday July 9, starting at 3.30pm.

The performances have been organised in partnership with the Craven and the First World War Project.

Project Officer Rob Freeman said: “A live performance will be a unique and memorable way to experience this extraordinary and moving UNESCO-listed historical film historic film, shot during the battle itself, and watched by over half of the adult UK population on its release in 1916 - a box office record not broken until the release of Star Wars in 1977.”

Both performances will begin with a short talk by Alastair Fraser, author of “Ghosts on the Somme” which gives a detailed analysis of the film by setting out where and when much of the film was shot, identifies individuals who appear in it and even reveals what some men are saying.

The film is rated a PG and will last approximately two hours, including an interval.

Tickets for the Sedbergh performance are available through the Sedbergh Pepperpot Club (015396 21196) or Sedbergh and District Information Centre (015396 20125).

Both performances and have been made possible by the support of Arts Council England.