There are no tricks or visual effects, but giving you a unique opportunity of having the best seat in the house watching this enchanting and imaginative production, which was filmed live at the gorgeous Garrick Theatre in London's West End in November 2015. It's an exquisitely intimate production that truly makes Shakespeare come alive. And if you are not that familiar with Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, Branagh delivers an insightful introduction to the play before curtain up.
Kenneth Branagh said: "In 2015, where theatre making and film making meet is exciting. The cinema broadcasts of our plays hope to challenge the possibilities of this relationship. We have a team of people who are experienced in both worlds. The potential results, particularly in exploring the magic of Shakespeare, should be fascinating.
"I am very pleased indeed to be working with Picturehouse to bring The Winter's Tale and subsequently Romeo & Juliet and The Entertainer live into cinemas around the world. These plays have epic dimensions, but also great intimacy, and I believe that, working with the talented director Benjamin Caron, we can bring the immediacy and excitement of the live stage production into cinemas. We will employ film techniques to make these broadcasts truly cinematic, without in any way compromising the theatrical experience.
The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare's timeless tragicomedy of obsession and redemption, is reimagined in a new production, co-directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh, with Dame Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh delivering powerhouse performances in the lead roles of Paulina and Leontes.
"The Winter's Tale is a play I have been drawn to through my entire career. Judi Dench has famously been in the play as Hermione and Perdita, but to have her in the company as Paulina and for us to work together on Shakespeare, which we have not done since Coriolanus in Chichester 20 years ago, is very rewarding."
The superb ensemble features Pierre Atri (Mamillius), Jaygann Ayeh (Archidamus and The Old Shepherd's Servant), Tom Bateman (Florizel), Jessie Buckley (Perdita), Vera Chok (Dorcas and First Lady), Jack Colgrave Hirst (Clown), John Dagleish (Autolycus), Hadley Fraser (Polixenes), Adam Garcia (Amadis), Rudi Goodman (Mamillius), Matthew Hawksley (Aegeum), Taylor James (Capnio), Pip Jordan (Shepherdess), Ansu Kabia (Cleomenes), Stuart Neal (Dion), Michael Pennington (Antigonus), Zoë Rainey (Emilia), Miranda Raison (Hermione), Michael Rouse (Gaoler & Mariner), John Shrapnel (Camillo), Kathryn Wilder (Mopsa) and Jimmy Yuill (The Shepherd).
Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company productions are distributed by Picturehouse Entertainment, the distribution arm of Picturehouse Cinemas, the owner and operator of 23 Picturehouse Cinemas and programming agent for a further 42 venues across the UK.
Since its launch in 2010, Picturehouse Entertainment has distributed an eclectic range of theatrical releases, including BAFTA winner The Imposter; award-winning docudrama 20,000 Days On Earth, featuring Nick Cave; 2015 BIFA Award winner Dark Horse: The Incredible True Story Of Dream Alliance; and The Lobster, starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Picturehouse Entertainment has also worked with renowned British directors Shane Meadows and Ben Wheatley. 2016 will feature Jeremy Saulnier's Green Room, starring Patrick Stewart, and the French dramedy Marguerite, based on the true story of singer Florence Foster Jenkins.
Picturehouse Entertainment also distributes high-profile alternative content to cinemas throughout the UK and internationally, such as hit productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Bolshoi Ballet and the National Theatre; Monty Python Live (mostly), beamed from the O2 to more than 570 cinemas in the UK and 2000 worldwide; The Rocky Horror Show Live, broadcast to cinemas globally from London's West End; and Roger Waters The Wall, a ground-breaking 4k Dolby Atmos capture of the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist of all time.
During 2016, in addition to The Winter's Tale, Cinema Nouveau will screen two further productions from the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, in partnership with Picturehouse Entertainment, from its year-long Plays at the Garrick season live to cinemas worldwide:
William Shakespeare's enduring tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, with Lily James and Richard Madden as the star-crossed lovers, reunites the stars of Kenneth Branagh's celebrated film Cinderella. Derek Jacobi joins the company as Mercutio.
John Osborne's The Entertainer, starring Branagh in the lead role. Set against the backdrop of post-war Britain, Osborne's modern classic conjures the seedy glamour of the old music halls for an explosive examination of public masks and private torment. Rob Ashford directs Kenneth Branagh as the unforgettable Archie Rice.
Marc Allenby, Director of Distribution of Picturehouse Entertainment, said: "At Picturehouse, we are huge admirers of the work of Ken and his collaborators, and it is with great pride that we look forward to bringing these exciting new productions from the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company to cinemas around the world."
The Winter's Tale releases on South African screens from Saturday, 16 January, 2016, for four screenings only: on 16, 20 and 21 January at 7.30pm and on 17 January at 2.30pm - only at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Joburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.The running time of this production is 3 hours and 5 minutes, including an interval.
For booking information on The Winter's Tale, download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone or Blackberry smartphone for updates, news and to make a booking. Go to www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mobi. Follow on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For queries, contact Ticketline on 0861 Movies (668 437). The discounts and benefits for cardholders of SK Club, Discovery Vitality and Edgars Club loyalty programmes apply for all live theatre productions. Special prices for school and group bookings are also available on request.
For more live theatre and other film releases, go to www.writingstudio.co.za
