Documentary about life in the North East during the First World War comes to Tyneside Cinema

This May, Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema welcomes artist filmmaker Esther Johnson and producer Bob Stanley for a screening of Asunder, their poetic documentary that commemorates 100 years since the Battle of the Somme.

Using archive and contemporary footage and audio, Asunder tells the stories of people from the North East during the First World War to uncover what life was like on the home front and Western front, from the men who fought in the fields to those who stayed behind to work in the region’s shipyards and munitions factories.

The soundtrack to the film was created by two renowned North East bands, Sunderland’s Field Music and Newcastle’s Warm Digits and was performed with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and The Cornshed Sisters.

The film originally premiered at the Sunderland Empire on 10 July 2016 where Field Music, Warm Digits, Royal Northern Sinfonia and The Cornshed Sisters performed the score live.

Tyneside Cinema’s Head of Programme, Holli Keeble said

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Esther and Bob to the Tyneside Cinema to talk about this fascinating documentary about life in the north east during wartime. Last year’s premiere in Sunderland was so well received and this is a fantastic opportunity for more people to see this film and also get a first-hand account from Esther and Bob about making it.”

Asunder plus Q&A with Esther Johnson takes place on Sunday 21 May at 15:15. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked in person from the Tyneside Cinema box office, by calling 0191 227 5500 or online at www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/asunder.

Tyneside Cinema will also be putting on a 100th Anniversary screening of the 1916 film The Battle Of The Somme as part of Somme 100, a project to put on 100 performances of the film to the mark the 100th Anniversary of The Battle Of The Somme. The screening takes place on Sunday 4 June and will be accompanied by composer Laura Rossi’s acclaimed orchestra soundtrack played by the Cobweb Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andy Jackson.

Tickets are on sale now from the Tyneside Cinema box office and at www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/the-battle-of-the-somme.