Alien on stage

Discover the story of the Dorset Bus Drivers whose amateur theater group has created a serious stage adaptation of the science fiction horror classic ALIEN. Despite ingenious solutions to pay homage, the show was a bitter failure at first. But fate suddenly made them leave their village hall to go to a London theater to present their masterpiece of accidental comedy. With wobbly sets, clumsy acting and dubious special effects, their debut in London's brilliant West End, their play became a jubilant must-see.

If, like us, you've seen Ridley Scott's cult film Alien the Eighth Passenger (1979) and its many more or less convincing sequels, you should enjoy watching this documentary about a troupe of amateur actors who succeed with very little means in offering an interesting re-reading of this film. Directors Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer followed the journey of these Dorset bus drivers. These theater and cinema enthusiasts have managed to capture the essence of this film and have given life to a rereading filled with humor and with many ideas to make us relive the highlights of this film whether it be the meal scene with the appearance of the alien or the fights between the creature of human size and the crew of a spacecraft reinvented on stage.

Alien on Stage is certainly an amateur documentary, but one that benefits from engaging people who, by associating and investing themselves totally, have succeeded in bringing to life a play that has been hailed by the press and met with enormous success in London.

Alien on stage
Directed by Lucy Harvey, Danielle Kummer
Starring: Employees from the Wiltshire and Dorset Bus Company
Release date: October 24, 2020 (UK)
Running time: 86 minutes

Viewed on October 18, 2020 (screener press)

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