The Kennington Bioscope is a regular cinema event featuring live accompaniment to silent films that takes place at the Cinema Museum.

Tragedy at the Circus Royal / Tragödie im Zirkus Royal Germany 1928. This is the English-language release, titled Ghosts of the Night.

Directed by Alfred Lind. Assistant director Robert Siodmak. Written by Alfred Lind and Armin Petersen. Cinematography: Edgar S. Ziesemer. Art directors: Willi Herrmann and Bernhard Schwidewski. Producer: Seymour Nebenzal for Nero-Film AG.

Cast: Bernhard Goetzke (Magirus), Ellen Kürti (Ziska), Werner Pittschau (Frank), Siegfried Arno (Atto), Helene von Bolváry (Frau Direktor Saltarelli), Carl Auen (Armand).

In the Circus Royal, the young artists Ziska, Armand, Frank and their mentor Atto perform the aerial sensation `Ghosts of the Night’ every day in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Armand is in love with Ziska. When she rejects him because she loves only Frank, Armand throws himself from the trapeze and dies. A mysterious inventor, Dr. Magirus, constructs a radio-mechanical human puppet, who is supposed to replace Armand in the act. A tale of science fiction, love and death in the ring!

The first part of the evening will be devoted to John Gielgud’s silent film career, with a brief glimpse of a stage performance in Romeo and Juliet, and a 9.5mm print of the Edgar Wallace thriller The Clue of the New Pin (1929).

35mm Film Screening with live piano accompaniment from John Sweeney. Colin Sell will be accompanying the films in the first half of the programme.

Silent film with intertitles which may be suitable for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Tickets & Pricing

£7. Seats are limited, so please arrive early or request an invitation using the email kenbioscope@gmail.com.