Musical pioneers Asian Dub Foundation will perform a live soundtrack to George Lucas’ sci-fi classic THX 1138 at the Corn Exchange this month, in a special event taking place as part of the Festival of Ideas (see page 32).
Re-imagining the cult film’s original score by Lalo Schifrin, the electronica band will offer a captivating new take on the musical element in THX 1138: a chilling vision of a dystopian future where mood-stabilising drugs are mandatory, sex is prohibited, and the population is controlled by sinister android police officers.
The film, which was released in 1971, bombed at the box office – almost annihilating George Lucas’ career before it had even begun (and certainly before he’d had a chance to think about Star Wars…). But the themes it addresses ensured that the film stood the test of time, remaining a compelling watch.
“It’s got religious fundamentalism, mad out-of-control consumerism and a totalitarian, centralised, computerised system of domination” says Steve Savale of Asian Dub Foundation. “I think all of those things exist now.”
23 October, tickets £21/£12.50 for under 26s/students. Starts 8pm.