A CAPACITY audience at Chepstow Castle thrilled to the film adventures of Ivanhoe, exactly 100 years to the day that the cameras stopped rolling.

The film was one of the first American productions made outside Hollywood and was shot on location at the castle and other parts Chepstow. Shooting finished on July 15 1913.

Two special showings of the 48-minute movie took place at the castle on the weekend featuring music and a "soundscape" from singing clubs from Chepstow, the Forest of Dean and Usk featuring music written by founder of the clubs Karl Daymond and music written in 1913.

The singers – wearing medieval costume used at the Glyndebourne Opera -- performed a range of songs before, as dusk fell, Chepstow Museum curator Anne Rainsbury, gave some background to the film before the screening.

She said: "A lot of Chepstow people worked as extras on the film and there are still families in the town who are related to people in the film.

"In the battle of Torquilstone scene there were about 500 people and the bridge works in Chepstow emptied of apprentices because they could get five bob for working on the film.

The film is an American production and the big parts are all played by Americans. King Baggot, who plays Ivanhoe was one of the biggest names at the time.

Ms Rainsbury added: "This was the first time a film was shot on location outside the United States so it is an important film."

The copy of the film was originally acquired by the Chepstow Society and was the reel shown in an extended run at the Electric Picture House in Beaufort Square.

Chepstow Singing Club will appear in a free concert at the bandstand on the riverbank on Sunday, July 28 from 2.30pm.