With this screening of a live performance you not only get to experience it in the comfort of a cinema and in full digital sound, but absolutely get the best seat in the house. You get the rare experience of being on stage with the actors and share the intimacy of their performances, and with a heavenly cast like this ensemble, you truly can't wish for anything more.
The roles of Valentine and Proteus (the two gentlemen of Verona) are played by Michael Marcus and Mark Arends, respectively, who both deliver stupendous performances as two men in search of love in all the wrong places, but with all the right intentions of arduous romantics.
Valentine is obsessed over Julia and Proteus is madly in love with Julia, but this is Shakespeare and nothing is what it seems - and everything that can spoil their passion does, offering a superb comedy of errors and dramatic outbursts.
Sarah Macrae is fantastic as the fiery Silvia, with Pearl Chanda equally brilliant in the role of Julia.
As with all great love stories, there has to be a major problem, and in Two Gentlemen of Verona, all hell breaks loose and friendships are tested when the two men both fall in love with Silvia.
It's best not to spoil your viewing by knowing too much of the story, but allow yourself the pleasure of taking a journey into one of Shakespeare's greatest plays.
What makes this production exceptional is that it's one of Shakespeare's first plays, and the first time in 45 years that The Two Gentlemen of Verona has been performed in full production on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage.
Other great performances are delivered by Jonny Glynn playing Silvia's father, the Duke of Milan, with Martin Bassindale as Speed, Valentine's man, and Roger Morlidge as Launce, Proteus' man, with Proteus' father, Antonio, played by Keith Osborn. And then there's the dog, yes live, who also delivers a tail-wagging performance.
If there's one reason to see this production, other for the outstanding production design, direction and performances from the entire ensemble, it's for the interviews with the cast and director, taking you behind the scenes of the magic of theatre.
The creative team assisting Godwin in the production includes Paul Wills as designer, with lighting by Bruno Poet, music by Michael Bruce, Christopher Shutt in charge of sound, and movement by Jonathan Goddard.
Shakespeare's comment on friendship, love, constancy and fickleness, this timeless romantic comedy takes us from the controlled world of Verona and Milan to the wildness of the forest where, it seems, anything can happen.
This acclaimed new production, set in modern-day Italy, was captured live at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon and should not be missed under any circumstances.
Other NT Live screenings at Cinema Nouveau are Euripide's powerful tragedy Medea (from 4 October) and Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire (from 18 October).
Screenings of The Two Gentlemen of Verona are on 27 September and 1 and 2 October at 7.30pm and at 2.30pm on 28 September. Book your seats at www.cinemanouveau.co.za
Two readers can win seats to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona on 2 October in Cape Town and Joburg. All you have to do is tell us who directed the play and send your contact details to az.oc.oidutsgnitirw@leinad before 30 September.
Read more about Two Gentlemen of Verona and other forthcoming NT Live screenings at www.writingstudio.co.za.
