Dundee is hosting a silent movie night which will be set to the sound of the Caird Hall organ
- Andrew Batchelor
- 21 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A touch of cinema history will return to Dundee this November when the Caird Hall stages a special Silent Film Night, complete with live organ accompaniment from renowned musician Donald MacKenzie.
The event, organised by the Friends of the Caird Hall Organ (FOCHO), takes place on Friday 7 November 2025 at 7.30pm.
This year’s programme features three comedy classics: Harold Lloyd’s For Heaven’s Sake, Charlie Chaplin’s Dough and Dynamite, and Ben Turpin’s Yukon Jake.
The Caird Hall’s grand concert organ, built by Harrison & Harrison of Durham in 1923, will once again take centre stage.
The instrument is one of the finest of its kind in the UK, marking Harrison & Harrison’s first venture into concert hall organ design.
Following years of neglect, it was fully restored by the same company in the early 1990s, bringing its magnificent sound back to life.
Since its restoration, the Friends of the Caird Hall Organ have worked closely with Dundee City Council and Leisure & Culture Dundee to preserve and promote the instrument.
Formed in 2010, the group has played a key role in ensuring the organ’s continued use and upkeep, donating £50,000 this year towards restoration work on the console and other areas.
The Silent Film Night celebrates the golden age of cinema, when pipe organs were used to bring silent films to life with improvised, live soundtracks.
Donald MacKenzie, FOCHO’s Honorary President, will provide the live accompaniment. Born in Ayrshire, MacKenzie is one of the country’s leading cinema organists, best known for his long-standing role as House Organist at London’s Odeon Leicester Square.
His career has included performances at Royal film premieres, BBC broadcasts, and even contributing to the soundtrack of Aardman’s BAFTA-winning Stagefright.
FOCHO chair members say the event not only revives a lost art form but also showcases Dundee’s own cultural heritage.
Tickets for the Silent Film Night are on sale now, offering a nostalgic evening of laughter, craftsmanship and musical brilliance in the heart of Dundee.
Tickets are priced at £12 for adults, £10 for concessions, £9 for Friends, and £5 for students. Accompanied schoolchildren (up to four per party) can attend for free, with additional schoolchildren tickets priced at £4 each.
