On 13th December, we will revive one of our landmark works in a centenary celebration of what is considered one of the greatest films ever created, Battleship Potemkin.

For one night only, University of Plymouth’s The House performing arts centre will journey audiences to a Russian Imperial Navy battleship on the Black Sea when a mutinous uprising by the ship's crew against their ruthless officers, sparked by spoiled meat, becomes a violent clash and one of the most famous closing scenes in cinema history.

The Pit Orchestra accompanies Sergei Eisenstein’s legendary 1925 silent film, widely considered a masterpiece in early cinema and which was inspired by the failed 1905 Russian Revolution. Its iconic climactic scene - a fictional massacre of civilians on the iconic Odessa steps in Ukraine - is widely studied for its editing and pioneering use of montage.

Originally composed collectively by The Pit Orchestra members under the guidance of lead composers Tom Richardson, Chris Muirhead and Chris Bailey, the score has  been reimagined by Tom Richardson for the 2025 season with technical guidance from the virtuosic, internationally-renowned composer Simon Dobson.

The event forms part of the centenary celebrations of Battleship Potemkin and continues The Pit Orchestra’s mission to breathe new life into classic cinema through live performance.

Twelve musicians will perform this moving revival, many of whom will play multiple instruments while also forming a dynamic choir. The Ukrainian Singers of Plymouth will open the event with a performance of traditional and contemporary Ukrainian music.

Get your tickets here.