Star Wars to tour the UK with a live orchestra

Screening classic films with live music is all the rage nowadays, so it was only a matter of time before George Lucas’ Star Wars: A New Hope was given the movie-as-concert treatment. You may have seen this 1977 space saga dozens of times, but an upcoming Star Wars: Film Concert Series offers you the opportunity to see it like never before: with John Williams’ Oscar-winning score given the live symphonic concert treatment in some of the UK’s largest venues. The Novello Orchestra will be on score duty, with conductor David Mahoney helping sync the musicians to the film.

After three dates in London at the Royal Albert Hall (16-18 Nov), the UK tour kicks off at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on 18 November. The concert series takes in Bournemouth, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Leeds, before coming to an end at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro on 9 December.

“We’re delighted that Star Wars fans will have the opportunity to experience the music of the movie performed live to picture in the UK for the first time,” said Grant Watmuff, a spokesman from Disney, who own the Star Wars franchise. “From the opening fanfare to the final note, John Williams’ score for Star Wars: A New Hope is a genre defining master class of cinematic composition.”

Full tour dates for Star Wars: Film Concert Series:

28 Nov: Liverpool Echo arena
29 Nov: Bournemouth International Centre 
1 Dec: Manchester Arena 
2 Dec: Birmingham Arena 
7 Dec: Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 
8 Dec: Leeds First Direct Arena 
9 Dec: Glasgow SSE Hydro

Ticket are an eye-watering £32.50 to £75, and go on pre-sale 31 Jan and general sale 2 Feb