This Valentine’s Day, why not head for the movies? But don’t settle for just any cinematic experience. Take the chance to watch one of the most iconic rom-coms ever made, with a full band and live orchestra. And this February, that’s exactly what you can do at the Southbank Centre’s world premiere of Sleepless in Seattle in Concert.
Ask any fan of rom-coms, and they’ll likely point you to a trio of Nora Ephron films from the ’80s and ’90s as being among the greatest ever made. I’m talking, of course, about the iconic When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle. Everyone has their own favourite from that group, and all three boast gorgeous soundtracks of original music and popular songs. But it’s the latter, with multiple award nominations for its music and songs, that is now receiving the ‘live in concert’ treatment.
Screening for one night only, on February 14, the film will be displayed on a huge, HD screen in the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. As the movie plays, a full band and live orchestra will perform the songs and music from the film. These include ‘A Wink and a Smile’, which earned composer Marc Shaiman an Oscar nomination, as well as Céline Dion and Clive Griffin’s ‘When I Fall In Love’, and the likes of ‘As Time Goes By’, ‘In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning’, and more.
Sleepless in Seattle
Need a refresher of the plot? The film stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in a bit of an unusual take on a meet-cute. Tom Hanks is a widower, Sam, who meets journalist Annie (Meg Ryan), amidst a sudden flurry of attention thanks to a radio dating ad.
What happens next? Well, you’ll have to head along to the ‘in concert’ screening to find out!
And don’t worry, they’re not silencing the film for the performance! The film’s dialogue will still play out, with subtitles on screen to ensure you don’t miss a single iconic line. But you’re sure to be entranced by the movie’s music in a whole new way.
So grab a ticket and head to the Southbank Centre for a heart-string-stirring orchestral and cinematic experience this Valentine’s Day. You’ll come out believing in the power of love all over again.