Voyage to the Cold Deep: Immersive film premiere

Step inside Europe's largest dome theatre and find yourself at the bottom of the Antarctic Ocean.

Voyage to the Cold Deep is a free immersive film experience at Market Hall Devonport, part of Voyage of Discovery: Exploring Research Together - the University of Plymouth's European Researchers' Night programme.

Prof. Jenny Gales is a Professor of Ocean Exploration at the University of Plymouth whose EU-funded research has taken her to some of the most remote places on Earth. In Antarctica's most isolated seas, an international team of scientists deploy underwater robots to map hidden volcanoes on the ocean floor. Their mission: to explore uncharted depths and uncover submarine geohazards that could unleash tsunamis across the globe.

Antarctica: Ocean Exploration Uncovered plunges you into a world of icebergs, hurricane-force winds, towering waves and erupting volcanoes — all captured in 360 degree immersion - revealing astonishing discoveries hidden beneath the waves.

Each screening includes an introduction and Q&A session with Prof. Jenny Gales following the film.

The screenings

There are two showings on Friday 25 September, each with a different supporting film. Please book the screening that suits you best.

5pm : Family Screening
Antarctica: Ocean Exploration Uncovered with Prof. Jenny Gales, followed by All About Sharks — a special illustrated talk for families featuring 360 degree dome footage of sharks in the wild.

Dive instructor, award-winning underwater photographer and Shark Trust team member Caroline Robertson-Brown will demonstrate her dive equipment, talk about what it is like to dive with Caribbean Reef Sharks, Manta Rays and Hammerhead sharks, and share stunning 360 footage captured as part of A Shark Story — a new film by Real Ideas in collaboration with The Shark Trust, currently in production. Caroline will also talk about the Shark Trust and why shark conservation matters.

Suitable for all ages. Perfect for families and younger visitors.

7pm : Evening Screening
Antarctica: Ocean Exploration Uncovered with Prof. Jenny Gales, followed by an exclusive free screening of Our Story — a breathtaking 50-minute immersive experience narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Produced by Real Ideas in collaboration with award-winning Bristol-based Open Planet Studios, Our Story was previously on show at the Natural History Museum in London. This latest version combines gigantic animations, stunning projections, real-world footage and full 360 degree immersion to tell the captivating story of ourselves and our planet — from Earth's earliest beginnings through the emergence of Homo sapiens, our closest relatives the gorillas, and our relationship with the great whales of the oceans. Sir David Attenborough explores the impact we are having on our planet and takes us to a hopeful future in which we come to work with the Earth rather than against it. Accompanied by an original score by Tony Award and Olivier Award-nominated composer Nick Powell.

Recommended for adults and older children.

Please arrive a few minutes before your screening time. Latecomers may not be admitted once the film has begun.

About Voyage of Discovery

Voyage to the Cold Deep is part of Voyage of Discovery: Exploring Research Together, the University of Plymouth's European Researchers' Night programme. European Researchers' Night takes place simultaneously across 40 countries and more than 460 cities every September, bringing science and communities together.

Other Voyage of Discovery events on Friday 25 September include The Way We Live: Designing Cities of Tomorrow at The Box, Voyage Home: Digital Architecture for Social Good in Plymouth City Centre, and the Research Fair at the University of Plymouth campus on Saturday 26 September. Find out more and book at voyageplymouth.org

Part of Voyage of Discovery, a free festival of research. Funded by the European Union, Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement No. 101305587.