Tashi Lhunpo Monks - The Power of Peace

Tibet, the Land of Snows, is home to Buddhist lamas whose ancient rituals have fascinated people for centuries.

Captain John Noel’s films Climbing Mount Everest and The Epic of Everest brought moving images of the 1922 and 1924 British expeditions, their Sherpas and guides and the Himalayan landscape to Western audiences for the first time.

He later invited seven Tibetan lamas from Gyantse in Central Tibet to travel to Europe to perform a “prologue” to screenings of The Epic of Everest during its 1924–1925 tour.

Now, a century later, monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery recreate this original prologue using the same magnificent instruments and distinctive music that captivated audiences in the 1920s, followed by a live performance.

The Power of Peace presents sacred mantras, music and dance from the monastery, offering a window into a world of reincarnation and mysticism.

From mesmerising chanting of Buddhist texts to swirling, costumed masked dances, the performance is accompanied by ancient Tantric instruments, including horns made from human thigh bones, skull drums, cymbals, bells and the great dungchen (long horns). Together, the monks evoke the atmosphere of sacred Tibet, offering a rare glimpse into an ancient and endangered culture.

Courtyard Theatre