The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft followed by a live virtual Q&A with director Werner Herzog.
The screening will be presented by Bexhill-raised filmmaker Peter Lown, who developed and co-produced the film and will moderate the Q&A with Werner Herzog.
Originally commissioned for television, this unique offering is a ‘preview special’, ahead of a limited theatrical run due to audience demand.
On 3 June 1991, a deadly cloud of hot gas and rock spewed out of Japan’s Mount Unzen. Among the 43 people consumed by it were scientist-filmmakers Maurice and Katia Krafft. They left behind over 200 hours of footage from their decades of work, which Herzog draws on for this stunning eulogy.
From 1977’s La Soufrière through to 2016’s Into the Inferno, Herzog has long been fascinated by these violent natural events and his deeply personal voiceover is a fitting memorial to two people who gave their lives in the pursuit of both science and the pure cinematic image.
Peter Lown is a Producer/Director and Filmmaker who specialises in documentaries that question our relationship with nature. The Fire Within: A Requiem for Maurice and Katia Krafft reflects a decade-long journey of research, writing, pitching, dreaming and producing, that offers an entirely different view of the creative powers of our earth.
“The Kraffts story is almost fable-like: two people who fell in love through their shared passion for volcanoes until it became an all-consuming obsession that would eventually claim their lives. But through accepting their fate – their inevitable death – they discovered a hidden realm that exists right here on earth, they witnessed the powers of creation and destruction, and they filmed it all. Ever since I discovered their story over a decade ago, I dreamt what may be hidden in their archive. The connection with Werner Herzog brought a whole new dimension to the project, stripping the idea back to its core and shaping it through the prism of a ‘requiem’. It’s visual, visceral and mesmeric – there is nothing else like it in cinema history”. Peter Lown
EVENT INFORMATION
Building Opens: 6.30pm
Show Start (Introduction): 7pm
Film Screening: 7.15pm
Interval: 8.40pm
Live Virtual Screen Talk with Werner Herzog: 9pm
This event is suitable for ages 15+
Reserved Seat £12.50
Student £10.50
Members £10.50 (discount applied at checkout)
We strongly recommend ticket buyers to take out Ticket Protection insurance with Secure My Booking available when you book your tickets at check out.
SEATING INFORMATION: If you are coming to a seated event, you will notice that we have temporary seats in the stalls. This is because we have started early preparatory works on the auditorium as part of our bigger capital project (https://www.dlwp.com/luf/). Major works are still some time off, and you will see that our programme runs well into 2025, but we will keep everyone updated on the next stages of the project as soon as we can.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DIRECTOR I Werner Herzog
WRITTEN AND NARRATED BY Werner Herzog
PRODUCTIONS COMPANIES I Brian Leith Productions (UK), Bonne Pioche Television (France), Titan Films (Switzerland)
EDITOR I Marco Capalbo
MUSIC I Ernst Reijseger
PRODUCTION TEAM I Mandy Leith, Alexandre Soullier, Julien Dumont, Kali Ligertwood, Peter Lown, Jess Winteringham
PARTNERS I Arte, A&E History, SVT, DR, NRK, Procirep France
SALES AGENT AND DISTRIBUTION I Jonathan Ford, Abacus MediaRights
In accordance with Government legislation we display the total ticket cost at the top of each event webpage, these are inclusive of any mandatory additional fees such as restoration levies or booking fees.
Please note that Booking Fees apply on the following transactions:
Online: Tickets booked online are subject to booking fees when purchased through our website. E-tickets are emailed instantly on the account you have registered with DLWP, please check your Junk folder if they don’t arrive within 30 minutes. Customers can also download their tickets through our website within ‘My Account’.
Telephone: £3.50 per transaction + £2 postage or free collection at the Box Office.
In Person: There are currently no charges for booking tickets in person.
There is a £2 charge to post tickets.
We strongly recommend ticket buyers to take out Ticket Protection insurance with Secure My Booking available when you book your tickets at check out.
Please note that we are only able to post tickets within the UK. If you live overseas please select box office collection or print at home tickets. Tickets purchased for post will be sent 10 – 14 days before the show date.
Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Book online: Pre-show dining can be booked online as an add-on when purchasing tickets for selected events. You will be purchasing a ticket to guarantee your meal before the show.
Please note you must be a ticket holder to the show to book pre-show dining.
Already booked your tickets? If you’ve already booked tickets for a show and would like to add dining, please contact Box Office: boxoffice@dlwp.com
On the night: If you have pre-booked please come to the bar to order from the gig menu and sit at one of the reserved tables.
Please be aware that we operate no re-entry for gigs. This means that once you have entered the building, you cannot go out and re-enter. This policy is in line with other major music venues across the UK and put in place on police advice. No re-entry is clearly signposted as you come through security on the front door.
There is a fenced-off area on the terrace for people who go out to smoke or vape.
There are plenty of welcoming and good value B&Bs & boutique hotels in Bexhill. The De La Warr Pavilion regularly uses the following:
The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel and Spa
Situated on a private beach with uninterrupted views of the English Channel, this immaculately restored four-star hotel is just a 10-minute drive from De La Warr Pavilion. Receive 10% discount on rooms* from Sunday to Thursday (excluding Fridays and Saturdays) using the promo code DLWP. BOOK NOW.
*Offer available until 31 March 2026 (blackout dates apply). Free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival. Paid partnership with The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel & Spa.
- By Rail
Direct trains go from London Victoria, Brighton and Ashford to Bexhill.
There are also trains from London Charing Cross, changing at St. Leonards Warrior Square and from London Bridge or Charing Cross going to Battle. Battle is only a short taxi journey away (15 mins approx).
Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk for up-to-date train travel information. - Taxis
Town Taxis: 01424 211 511
Parkhurst Taxis: 01424 733 456 - By Car
If driving from the London area:
Take the M25, then A21 to Hastings. Turn off at John‘s Cross and follow the signs to Bexhill.
OR
Take the A22 to Eastbourne, go across the Bishop roundabout to the A271 and follow the signs to Bexhill and the seafront. The De La Warr Pavilion is on the Marina.
From the Brighton area:
Follow the A27 out of Brighton until you arrive in Bexhill On Sea. - Parking
Please be aware the Rother District car park outside the De La Warr Pavilion operates paid parking until 10pm. After this time parking is free.
Within the limits of this Grade One listed building, the De La Warr Pavilion strives to be fully accessible with a range of facilities to support your visit.
If you have specific access needs for a daytime visit or for a bookable event, please email customerservice@dlwp.com or call 01424 229111
Current facilities are:
- Assistance Dogs are permitted into the building (not in the carpeted area of the Café Bar)
- Ramped access at the front of the building
- A low counter at the Box Office and Information Desk
- Disabled toilets on two floors
- A lift to all floors
- Accessible galleries on both floors
- An accessible Café
- Spaces for wheelchairs in the auditorium for seated events – please note that currently our balcony seating is not accessible for wheelchairs/walkers.
- Ramped access in the auditorium for events during the day
- Ramped access into the Studio
- Two travel wheelchairs are available for use at the De La Warr Pavilion. To reserve, please call our box office and information desk on (01424) 229111 or ask a member of staff on arrival. The chairs are provided on a first come, first served basis and are intended for use inside the Pavilion. Please contact us for more information.
Facilities for blind or visually-impaired
- Large print season brochures
Facilities for the hard-of-hearing
- An T-Switch induction loop in some areas of the auditorium (please indicate when booking as this facility is not available on the balcony)
- British Sign Language interpretation tours of the building and exhibitions are available on request.