Masterful Romeo and Juliet ballet on the big screen

Shakepeare's tragic tale of star-crossed lovers is perfectly expressed in motion to Sergey Prokofiev's haunting score and Kenneth MacMillan's sensual choreography. The production is so rich in texture and colour it's as if the dance, drama and robust sword-fighting sequences burst out of a Rembrandt painting - quite reminiscent of Franco Zeffirelli's classic film version.

If ever you wanted to grasp what ballet, and the world of ballet, is all about, this screening features insightful documentaries on the history of the ballet and interviews with the creators and dancers, as well as an exciting glimpse into what it takes to bring the nail-biting sword-fighting scenes to life, to the pulsating beat of the music.

Signature work

Given its premiere by The Royal Ballet in 1965 with Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn dancing the title roles, Kenneth MacMillan's first full-evening ballet has become a signature work for the company, enjoying great popularity around the world.

Although The Royal Ballet has performed Romeo and Juliet over 400 times, each performance and pairing is subtly different, and Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli are utterly captivating in the title roles, with a dashing Alexander Cambell as Mercurio.

It's an emotional journey into a story we all know, amplified by Kenneth MacMillan's poignant setting of Prokofiev's classic score, which draws out the intensity of the tale.

It's ballet at its most exciting, with three passionate pas de deux: the lovers' first meeting, the passionate balcony scene, and the devastating final tragedy in which Romeo dances desperately with the lifeless Juliet.

The story is set against a wonderful evocation of 16th-century Verona and includes a bustling marketplace that erupts into a violent sword fight, and a lavish ball held in an elegant mansion.

This performance was captured on camera, live from Covent Garden in 2012.

Romeo and Juliet releases on South African screens for four screenings only: on 6, 10 and 11 June at 7.30pm and on 7 June at 2.30pm - at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Joburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. Bookings are now open.The running time of this production is approximately 2 hours and 33 minutes, with one 20-minute interval after Act 1.

For more information and to make bookings, go to www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mobi. Download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone or Blackberry smart phone for updates, news and to book. Follow on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For queries, call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437).

To stand the chance to win two tickets to Romeo and Juliet at Gateway or V&A Nouveau on Thursday 11 June at 19:30 email your name, contact details and venue preference to az.oc.oidutsgnitirw@leinad.