Why do pantomime when you can do Alien?

A very amateur dramatics group of Dorset Bus Drivers spent a year creating a serious stage adaptation of the sci-fi, horror film, Alien. With wobbly sets, awkward acting and special effects requiring more luck than judgement.

And now after a hugely successful festival run and rather impressive ratings of 7.3/10 on IMDB, and 95% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes the filmmakers of documentary Alien on Stage are celebrating the launch of the film's Blu-Ray release in Birmingham.

The Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham will host a regional cinema screening on Friday 13th March where viewers can enjoy the film with the buzz of a live audience. And it's a rare chance for cast and crew to get back together, as well as sign copies of their shiny new physical media to keep forever!

For those new to Alien on Stage (it made number 5 in out Top 20 of last year so comes highly recommended from us) the documentary is a unique look at a crew of Dorset Bus Drivers whose amateur dramatics group decided to ditch doing another pantomime and try something different.

Having never done anything like it before, they spent a year creating a serious adaptation of Ridley Scott's legendary horror Alien; finding ingenious solutions to re-create this Hollywood cult classic for the stage.

Unfortunately, the show was a crushing flop but fate gives them a second chance to find their audience. Whilst still adjusting to the idea that their serious show is actually a comedy, the group found out they’re suddenly being whisked from their village hall to a London West End theater to perform this accidental masterpiece for one night only!

As with the best home-grown projects filmmakers Danielle Kummer and Lucy Harvey self-funded the filming of the documentary and then raised £10,000 for post production through Kickstarter. And the Blu-Ray launch will be the final piece of the puzzle as "a celebration of that spark of madness and genius when people come together and commit to creating something purely for the love of it". 

The Midlands Arts Centre event will be hosted by Midlands Movies film friend Simon Brew of Film Stories and the filmmakers are encouraging fans of documentaries, Alien AND comedy to grab the Blu-Ray which includes 30 minutes of extra features.

To book tickets for this special event head to the venue's website here: FRI 13th 7pm Midlands Art Centre BIRMINGHAM

The screening will be followed by a live onstage Q&A with directors Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer.

And for more information about the film, its creators and history check the official website at www.alienonstagedoc.com