In The Nursery is the Sheffield-based musical project founded in 1981 by identical twin brothers Klive and Nigel Humberstone. Over four decades, the group has built an international reputation for its distinctive cinematic sound, seamlessly blending electronics, orchestral percussion, classical instrumentation and evocative soundscapes. Throughout their career, they have remained committed to artistic experimentation while staying true to their original creative vision.
With more than 30 albums to their name, In The Nursery have continually evolved their musical language, incorporating contemporary influences while maintaining their unmistakable aesthetic. Their music has featured extensively in film, television and trailers, including Game of Thrones and Gran Torino.
Since 1996, alongside their studio recordings, In The Nursery have developed the acclaimed Optical Music Series, creating and performing original scores for classic silent films. Their repertoire includes The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, Asphalt, Man with a Movie Camera, Hindle Wakes, A Page of Madness, The Passion of Joan of Arc, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Seashell and the Clergyman. These live performances have been presented at major film festivals and cultural events across Europe, North America and Asia.
Their most recent studio album, HUMBERSTONE, was released in 2022, marking another chapter in the group’s continuing exploration of cinematic and contemporary music.
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
Carl Th. Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) is widely regarded as one of cinema’s greatest achievements. Renée Falconetti delivers an extraordinary performance as Joan, whose trial, faith and martyrdom unfold through Dreyer’s pioneering use of intimate close-ups and stark visual composition.
Long believed lost after the original negative was destroyed in a fire, Dreyer’s definitive cut was miraculously rediscovered in 1981, restoring one of silent cinema’s true masterpieces.
Commissioned by Sensoria Festival and the Barbican Cinema, In The Nursery’s original score complements the film’s emotional intensity, tracing Joan’s journey from the claustrophobic interrogation scenes to the devastating climax of her execution. Blending orchestral tones, electronics and cinematic soundscapes, the score offers a powerful contemporary interpretation of this timeless classic.
