Jurassic Park in Concert The Glasshouse 22/2/26
Invited| Review by Michael Dunwell
We’d spent the weekend over in Manchester, and somehow managed to time our return perfectly, because on the Sunday afternoon we had tickets to something I’d been quietly excited about for weeks: Jurassic Park in Concert at The Glasshouse.
It was a 2pm showing, we parked up and had a little stroll along the Quayside in the sunshine before heading in. Newcastle really is ridiculous in the sun. The Tyne sparkling, the breeze just right, people wandering about with coffees. It felt like one of those days where everything just lines up. The Quayside market was also on (quick side note, you have to try Parmorama’s Mini Parmo fries, anyway back to the Park).
When we arrived at The Glasshouse, the place was absolutely buzzing. Jurassic Park t shirts on sale, pints flowing at the bar, families, couples, groups of mates all with that giddy energy you have before seeing a movie. Staff were welcoming everyone in, and as we took our seats in Sage One, you could feel the anticipation building.
For anyone who hasn’t been to one of these before, the film plays on the huge screen at the back of the stage, while the Royal Northern Sinfonia perform the entire score live beneath it. It sounds ambitious. It is ambitious. And it was flawless.
The biggest compliment I can give them is this: it genuinely felt like I was listening to the original soundtrack straight from the film. On several occasions I had to remind myself that this wasn’t pre recorded. These incredibly talented musicians were performing one of the most iconic film scores of all time, in perfect sync, without missing a beat.
What fascinated me most was watching the conductor’s screen. Instead of just the film, it included a countdown clock showing the exact time remaining before the next musical cue, alongside moving vertical bars acting as a visual metronome. It meant that those huge cinematic moments, especially that legendary “Welcome to Jurassic Park” swell, landed at precisely the right second. The level of precision required is unreal. Technically, it was astonishing.
At the same time, there was something really human about it. You could see the musicians determined to stay locked in, eyes flicking between sheet music and conductor, but every now and then someone would glance up at the screen (it’s Jurassic Park who wouldn’t?). There was a visible sense of excitement in the room when they launched into John Williams’ soaring main theme. You could feel the orchestra enjoying it just as much as we were.
And what can I say about the film that hasn’t already been said? It’s a classic. Brilliant writing, unforgettable characters, that perfect balance of awe and tension. And as my girlfriend perfectly summed it up, “dinosaurs are just the best.” Hard to argue with that.
Seeing it with a live orchestra elevated everything. The tension felt sharper. The wonder felt bigger. The emotional beats hit harder. It made me appreciate the craft behind film scoring on a whole new level. Honestly, it made me want to take part in one of these someday.
If you ever get the chance to see a film in concert at The Glasshouse, do it. They’ve got some brilliant ones coming up too, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Home Alone 2, and most importantly, The Muppets Christmas Carol this Christmas.
If you’re at that one, I’ll see you there!