THE UK’S NATIONAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2009/2010 SEASON
PROGRAM OF NT LIVE & PARTICIPATING AUSTRALIAN VENUES
A SERIES OF FOUR LIVE PLAYS IN HIGH-DEFINITION
TO OVER 230 MOVIE THEATRES AND
PERFORMING ARTS CENTRES WORLDWIDE, SUPPORTED BY TRAVELEX
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The series begins with PHÈDRE, starring Helen Mirren, Dominic Cooper and Margaret Tyzack
Captured LIVE for Australian audiences to view July 11 & 12
TICKETS FOR PHÈDRE NOW ON SALE – TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE!
The pilot season of NT Live, the new initiative by the UK’s National Theatre to broadcast live performances of plays onto cinema screens around the world, launches Saturday, July 11 with NT Director Nicholas Hytner’s production of PHÈDRE by Jean Racine, in a version by Ted Hughes, with Helen Mirren in the title role. The cast also includes Dominic Cooper and Margaret Tyzack.
PHÈDRE will be followed on October 17 by Shakespeare’s ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL with Clare Higgins; and, in February 2010, by NATION, based on a novel by Terry Pratchett, adapted by Mark Ravenhill; and Alan Bennett’s new play THE HABIT OF ART with Michael Gambon, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour in the first quarter of 2010.
NT Live performances will be captured live at the National Theatre in high definition and screened at cinemas across Australia.
NT Live screenings in international venues are supported by Travelex, the world’s foreign exchange and business payments specialist,
“The NT Live events are designed to bring what we do on the stages of the National to a far greater number of people than we would ever be able to reach otherwise,” says Nicholas Hytner. “Through high definition broadcasts, we have the technology at our disposal to present our productions beyond the four walls of the National, to reach passionate theatre-goers all over the world, and to do it really well.”
Of her performance in PHÈDRE, Helen Mirren says, “I am very happy to have the opportunity to play Phèdre - a rich, complex and demanding role – and to be part of NT Live, this grand new adventure for the National Theatre.”
Lloyd Dorfman, Chairman of Travelex, says: ‘NT Live is a major innovation in theatre. We’re enormously proud to be part of it – the result of a seven year partnership with the National Theatre, one of the world’s most respected theatres. Day-to-day, Travelex is committed to helping connect people and businesses across the globe. We really hope that this initiative makes world class theatre accessible for those connected by a love of the stage on a truly worldwide scale.’
The four plays for the pilot NT Live season are:
Racine’s Phèdre, in a version by Ted Hughes, directed by Nicholas Hytner, with Helen Mirren, Dominic Cooper and Margaret Tyzack (Saturday/Sunday, July 11 & 12, 2009 at 1pm).
Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, directed by Marianne Elliott, with Oliver Ford Davies, Clare Higgins, Conleth Hill, George Rainsford and Michelle Terry (Saturday/Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2009 at 1pm).
Nation, based on a novel by Terry Pratchett, adapted by Mark Ravenhill, directed by Melly Still - part Treasure Island, part Lord of the Flies, this is about the two last survivors of a tsunami, who discover science and use it to forge a new world (two performances only, in February 2010).
The Habit of Art - Alan Bennett’s first play since The History Boys, directed by Nicholas Hytner, dealing with the relationship of the poet W H Auden (played by Michael Gambon) and the composer Benjamin Britten (played by Alex Jennings). Also starring Frances de la Tour (two performances only, in the first quarter of 2010).
NT Live internationally is supported by Travelex, and funded in partnership with Arts Council England and NESTA.
Travelex is the world's foreign exchange and business payments specialist. With operations spanning 35 countries, the business operates three divisions focusing on retail foreign exchange, cross border business payments and outsourcing partnerships. The company serves a customer every other second and, through an expansive network covering 115 airports, has a global annual audience of 1.8bn people.
The NT Live events are distributed outside the U.K. through New York-based distributor, BY EXPERIENCE, and through local film distributor, SHARMILL FILMS.
For additional information visit nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive and for ticket information at participating locations in Australia visit NTLive.info
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