Academy Award nominee and Tony and Olivier award winner Ian McKellen stars in King Lear, BAFTA winner Vanessa Kirby plays the lead in Julie – an updated version of the Strindberg classic Miss Julie, and Olivier award winner Mark Gatiss stars as King George III in The Madness of George III.
National Theatre Live and Ster-Kinekor Nouveau have announced details of three unmissable theatre productions for Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban in the second half of 2018, as part of this year’s programme of NT Live broadcasts, screening the best of British theatre to more than 2,500 venues across 65 countries.
Fresh from her BAFTA win for playing Princess Margaret in The Crown, Vanessa Kirby stars in Julie, an updated version of Strindberg’s classic play Miss Julie, set in modern London and screening at Ster-Kinekor Nouveau from October 13.
Wild and newly single, socialite Julie throws a midsummer party. In the kitchen, Jean and Kristen clean up as the celebration heaves above them. Crossing the threshold, Julie initiates a power game with Jean, which descends into a savage fight for survival.
Fuelled by social division, Strindberg’s masterpiece remains shocking and fiercely relevant in this new adaptation by Polly Stenham. Carrie Cracknell (The Deep Blue Sea) directs a cast including Vanessa Kirby (The Crown) and Eric Kofi Abrefa (The Amen Corner).
Julie – by Polly Stenham, after Strindberg
Filmed live at the National Theatre, London
Screening at Ster-Kinekor Nouveau on Saturday 13, Wednesday 17 & Thursday 18 October at 19:30; Sunday 14 October at 14:00
With Academy Award nominee and Tony and Olivier Award winner Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, X-Men) in the title role, King Lear received five-star reviews for its sell-out run at the UK’s Chichester Festival Theatre and screens at Ster-Kinekor Nouveau from October 27. Jonathan Munby directs this contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s tender, violent, moving and shocking play, described as ‘nuanced and powerful’ (The Times).
Considered by many to be the greatest tragedy ever written, King Lear sees two ageing fathers – one a king, one his courtier – reject the children who truly love them. Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery, as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with bitter ends.
King Lear – by William Shakespeare
Filmed live at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London’s West End
Screening at Ster-Kinekor Nouveau on Saturday 27, Wednesday 31 October and Thursday 1 November at 19:30; Sunday 28 October at 14:00
It’s 1786. King George III is the most powerful man in the world. However, his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic as he succumbs to fits of lunacy; his mind unravelling at a dramatic pace. As the Queen and Prime Minister attempt to hide the king’s illness from his subjects, royal doctors hopelessly squabble over the correct cure, subjecting him to torturous medical treatments.
Ambitious politicians and a scheming prince begin a power struggle, endangering the stability of the crown. A play about power and identity, examining the fine line between a king and a man.
The Madness of George III is an epic, multi-awarding-winning drama, familiar from both stage and screen. Expect grand costumes and royal pomp alongside nail-biting tension in Nottingham Playhouse’s brand new production of Alan Bennett’s moving and funny masterpiece, screening at Ster-Kinekor Nouveau from December 22.
Directed by Adam Penford, the cast includes Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Game of Thrones) as King George III and Adrian Scarborough (The King’s Speech, Gavin and Stacey) as Dr Willis.
Mark Gatiss said: “I’m thrilled that, thanks to National Theatre Live, our production of Alan Bennett’s brilliant play will reach so many more people across the UK and the world. We can’t wait for everyone to see this wonderful, funny and touching drama.”
The Madness of George III – by Alan Bennett
Filmed live at the UK’s Nottingham Playhouse
Screening at Ster-Kinekor Nouveau on Saturday 22, Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 December at 19:30; Sunday 23 December at 14:00
National Theatre Live screens at Cinema Nouveau Rosebank (Johannesburg), Gateway Commercial (Durban), Cinema Nouveau Brooklyn (Pretoria) and Cinema Nouveau V & A Waterfront (Cape Town). For booking information visit www.sterkinekor.com and the Ster-Kinekor App. Follow Ster-Kinekor on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For queries, contact Ticketline on 0861 Movies (668 437).
Since launching in 2009, National Theatre Live broadcasts have been seen by an audience of over 8 million people at 2,500 venues in 65 countries. The first season began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phédre starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Recent broadcasts include Follies with Imelda Staunton, Yerma with Billie Piper, Angels in America with Andrew Garfield, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with Daniel Radcliffe and Hedda Gabler with Ruth Wilson.
National Theatre Live is distributed by New York-based BY Experience, Inc. (www.byexperience.net)
