Fritz Lang’s science fiction film Metropolis is hailed as a landmark. Made in Germany during the Weimar period, it transposed the class politics of its time into the realms of a future dystopia controlled by industrialists from atop their colossal skyscrapers. Far below toiled the workers, like an army of ants among giant machines.

Now, Sydney’s Little Eggs Collective is about to turn that story into a chamber musical, with a cast of ten and a three-piece band. The idea, says Zara Stanton, the production’s composer and musical director, is to explore some themes that were sidelined when Thea von Harbou’s 1925 novel of the same name was adapted into a screenplay.

“In the film there’s a lot of focus on the love story element of Metropolis but that takes a back seat in our version,” Stanton tells Limelight. “We are much more focused on the theme of power corruption and the parallels to the current day – with the rise of tech giants who seem to exist above government regulation and national borders.”

Zara Stanton. Photo supplied

Stanton is one of the leading lights among her generation of theatre-focused composer-musicians....