ABOUT Children of Metropolis
A city built from music.
Inspired by the enduring legacy of Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Children of Metropolis is an original music-theatre experience that combines a feature-length silent film with a live performance unlike anything else on today's stage.
As the film unfolds, five musicians perform the entire score live in synchronization using an extraordinary orchestra of 88 handcrafted musical instruments created by composer Gregory Kozak from reclaimed industrial materials. Part sculpture. Part musical instrument. These remarkable creations become characters in the story themselves, transforming the stage into a world of movement, rhythm and imagination.
Entirely non-verbal, Children of Metropolis invites audiences of every age and culture into a cinematic adventure told through music, movement and visual storytelling. Funny, inventive and emotionally engaging, it blurs the boundaries between concert, cinema and theatre.
Beyond the stage, workshops, school performances and university residencies invite participants to explore music, engineering, industrial design and sustainability through hands-on creativity.
Whether experienced as a theatrical event, a family outing or an educational residency, Children of Metropolis offers an unforgettable journey into a world where music doesn't simply accompany the story—it creates it.
About Scrap Arts Music
We’ve been making music together since 1998, and hit the international touring circuit in 2001—an adventure that changed our lives forever. Along the way, we’ve received glowing reviews from critics around the world (check them out [here]). We've also experienced unforgettable milestones, including performing at the 2010 Winter Olympics—from the very first Medals Ceremony to the Closing Ceremony itself.
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“Humour, wit and genuine subtlety. The result? Pure Magic… An accomplished and hugely engaging company.”
— Graham Williams, EVENING POST (UK)
From Concept to Premiere
After relocating to Vancouver Island in 2014, Scrap Arts Music began integrating film and video projection into its percussion-based work, developing a powerful new way to tell original stories.
Children of Metropolis is a fast-paced, all-acoustic production featuring invented instruments, original compositions, and athletic choreography. Inspired by Fritz Lang’s iconic 1927 film, the production reimagines a retro-futuristic cityscape built entirely from sculptural instruments crafted from salvaged materials.
Following early tours in select markets, the work was completed during the pandemic with a full-length film and an album (supported by FACTOR). The live production officially premiered in New Mexico in 2024.
Performed by five musicians with striking physicality and percussive drive, Children of Metropolis delivers intricate, playful, and powerful performances that captivate audiences of all ages.
Funding AcknowledgEment
Scrap Arts Music is deeply grateful for the multi-year creation support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Creative BC, Small Business BC, Music BC, and FACTOR Canada. Special thanks also to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre for hosting a 10-day technical residency that helped bring this work to the stage.