To promote the latest BFI Major Programmes season – BFI Musicals! – Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester played host to flash mobs performing Singin’ In The Rain from the Gene Kelly classic.
Singing and dancing its way into cinemas and venues across the UK, BFI Musicals! will celebrate the joyful, emotional, shared experience of watching film musicals; with the biggest stars, the most iconic scenes and the best-loved song and dance numbers back on the big screen, including re-releases of classic musicals including Singin’ in the Rain (1952).
To mark this special occasion and get the whole of the UK tapping their feet and singing their hearts out, Compass Presents, in partnership with the BFI Film Audience Network hubs and key cultural venues, organised flash mobs in three major UK cities to spread awareness, joy and engage in an all-singing-all-dancing national moment.
The flash mobs have naturally generated a lot of press attention on TV, radio and in print with volunteers embracing their inner Gene Kelly as they tapped their feet and twirled their umbrellas.
Watch highlights of @CompassPresents' UK-wide Singin' in the Rain umbrella flash mobs to celebrate #BFIMusicals, with a little extra help from our friend Major Clanger. With many thanks to @FilmHubMidlands, @HOME_mcr, @chaptertweets, @wshed and @helloclangers. pic.twitter.com/zwsscvLvuR
— BFI (@BFI) November 20, 2019
- BBC Points West (12/10/2019): A dance routine of Singin’ in the Rain was performed by a group of volunteers in Bristol all day, which could become part of a promotional video for the British Film Institute
- BBC Radio Bristol, Laura Rawlings (12/10/2019): Discussion about the Singin’ In The Rain flashdance in Bristol, which will be part of the BFIs musical season
- The Bristol Post (12/10/2019): Flash mob bursts into life in city centre
- Wales 247 (18/10/2019): Here’s How You Can Get Involved In A Cardiff Flashmob This Saturday
- Radio Cardiff (14/10/2019): Interview with Claire Vaughn at Chapter (56 mins 30 secs)
- Around Town Wales (10/10/2019): Dozens of volunteers to perform to Singin’ in the Rain in Cardiff Umbrella Flash Mob
- Cardiff Times (09/10/2019): Cardiff Singin’ In The Rain flash mob
BFI Musicals will be running at venues across the UK from October 2019 – January 2020, celebrating the greatest stars including Gene Kelly, Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland, and spotlighting the directors and composers whose creativity was the driving force behind countless beloved musicals; from the virtuoso choreographer and director Bob Fosse (Cabaret, Sweet Charity) to the late great composer Michel Legrand (Yentl, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg). Over 300 screenings will take place at more than 70 venues across the UK, from Belfast and Cardiff to Sheffield and Glasgow, with further events being confirmed all the time on www.bfimusicals.co.uk.
Singin’ in the Rain flash mob outside Chapter in Cardiff
BFI Musicals will also feature a touring programme of 12 musicals presented by the ICO (Independent Cinema Office) – the tour offers cinemas and community venues far and wide the opportunity to host screenings of classic musicals as well as underseen titles ripe for discovery, ensuring that audiences across the UK can enjoy the season. The films touring to venues will include: First a Girl (Victor Saville, 1935), Guys and Dolls (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1955), A Star is Born (George Cukor, 1954), Cabaret (Bob Fosse, 1972), Yentl (Barbra Streisand, 1983), Calamity Jane (singalong version) (David Butler, 1953), Top Hat (Mark Sandrich, 1935), Carousel (Henry King, 1956), Sweet Charity (Bob Fosse, 1969), Pakeezah (Kamal Amrohi, 1972), Cabin in the Sky (Vincente Minnelli, 1943) and Singing Lovebirds (Masahiro Makino, 1939).
In addition to the UK-wide screenings and events programmed in partnership with BFI FAN and the ICO, the BFI will re-release three classic musicals in cinemas across UK during the season – Singin’ in the Rain on 18 October, Tommy on 22 November and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on 6 December.
The re-releases will screen at venues across the UK, ensuring that audiences the length and breadth of the country will be able to join in the celebration of all things song and dance.
For more information about the BFI Musicals season, visit Film Hub Midlands.
For access to a range of marketing assets, including film clips, gif and the season’s trailer, please contact BFI Musicals Marketing Campaign Coordinator Hannah McHaffie.
To read the full BFI Musicals! press release, click here.
Bristol flash mob photos courtesy of Jon Craig Photography (Instagram/Twitter)
