Ben Hur Chariots Of Fire Gallop Into London

A live remake of the 1959 epic Ben Hur starring Charlton Heston is having its opening night at London's O2 Arena.

Performers take part in a press preview of the chariot race

Utilising 46 horses, 2 eagles, 120 doves and hundreds of dancers, the show's producer Franz Abraham says he wants it to be an "opera for God" that will still be talked about in 50 years time.

The story of Judah Ben-Hur is one of love and revenge and, just like the movie, features duelling, animals and the familiar scene showing the cruxifixion of Christ.

But it wouldn't be Ben-Hur without the famous chariots scene which is still, to this day, regarded as one of the most spectacular movie sequences of all time.

The music is provided by Stewart Copeland - former drummer with The Police - who also gives English commentary over the Latin in which the show is delivered.

He told Sky News the decision to work on this project was an easy one: "To stage that huge movie live in front of you.. you get to see the chariot race, the sea battle.

"You get to see the gladiators. It's just a spectacular show. Stuff is happenening at all times."

Stewart Copeland

Copeland was last in an arena last year with his band The Police, something he says was "quite the same, but quite different".

"The same sense of size with the number of peope backstage. We actually have more stuff here," he laughs.

"The Police we had zero chariots, not a single gallion and very few gladiators.

"Well actually we did have gladiators, but they weren't wearing cool armour like that. And in fact there was only three of us!"

Franz Abraham raised the funds to finance the enormous production.

It's costing him £19m which he's secured through loans and personal collaterol to keep it running internationally until Christmas.

It opens in London on September 17th.