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Following the success of ‘live’ productions from National Theatre Live and The Met Opera and the Exhibition: Live on Screen series, Cinema Nouveau announces that it will be screening productions from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). The first screening takes place in January 2014, and features the sold-out RSC production of Richard II.

The film will release on Saturday, 25 January 2014, for four screenings only, at the four Cinema Nouveau sites and select Ster-Kinekor cinemas: Somerset Mall in Somerset West, Blue Route Mall in Cape Town, Garden Route Mall in George and Bedford Centre in Johannesburg.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), in collaboration with Picturehouse Entertainment, is pleased to announce that Gregory Doran’s production of William Shakespeare’s Richard II with David Tennant in the title role, is the first broadcast of “Live from Stratford-upon-Avon”. This programme will screen the RSC’s productions from Shakespeare’s home town to venues around the world. 

Following a phenomenally successful live broadcast on 13 November and subsequent ‘encore’ screenings, Richard II has had over 80 000 admissions and generated over £1m box office to date. Limited screenings will take place between 25 and 30 January 2014 at Cinema Nouveau and select Ster-Kinekor cinemas across South Africa.

Richard II is directed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran with David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) in the title role; the production opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon this October and was captured live during the 13 November performance.  The RSC has also opened up its work behind the scenes through a series of short films that are available online.

Richard II is King, ordained by God to lead his people. But he is also a man of very human weakness. A man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic civil war that will last 100 years. Tennant is joined in the company by Oliver Ford Davies as the Duke of York, Michael Pennington as John of Gaunt and Jane Lapotaire as the Duchess of Gloucester.

A definitive production of a great play and well worth catching when it is broadcast live to cinemas - Daily Mail

David Tennant delivers a vivid, intelligent performance in Gregory Doran's clear, detailed and dynamic production. One of the year's hottest tickets. Oliver Ford Davies's Duke of York is an unalloyed delight - Evening Standard

David Tennant is mesmerising in the first show of Gregory Doran's six-year plan to present all of Shakespeare's works. A beautifully crafted, richly detailed production - Guardian

Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing the work we make in Stratford-upon-Avon to the widest possible audience. Through a new partnership with Picturehouse Entertainment, who have a great track record in screening the arts live, we can share the RSC’s contemporary interpretations of our house playwright across the UK and around the world, direct from Shakespeare’s home town.”

The  cast includes: Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Groom), Antony Byrne (Mowbray), Sean Chapman (Northumberland), Marty Cruickshank (Duchess of York), Oliver Ford Davies (Duke of York), Gracy Goldman (Lady in Waiting), Marcus Griffiths (Greene), Emma Hamilton (The Queen), Jim Hooper (Bishop of Carlisle), Youssef Kerkour (Willoughby), Jane Lapotaire (Duchess of Gloucester), Nigel Lindsay (Bolingbroke), Jake Mann (Bagot), Sam Marks (Bushy), Miranda Nolan (Lady in Waiting), Keith Osborn (Scroop), Michael Pennington (John of Gaunt), Joshua Richards (Ross/Lord Marshall), Oliver Rix (Aumerle), David Tennant (Richard II), Simon Thorp (Salisbury) and Edmund Wiseman (Harry Percy).

The production is designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by Martin Slavin.  The movement director is Mike Ashcroft and the fight director is Terry King. The production’s music is composed by Paul Englishby.

The broadcast of Richard II was the first of four RSC Shakespeare plays to be filmed live and is the start of an on-going programme to make the Company’s work more available to a nationwide and global audience. Over the next year, three further productions will be broadcast across the world, including South Africa thanks to Cinema Nouveau: Henry IV Part I; Henry IV Part II and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Doran will direct Henry IV Parts I & II, with South African-born Antony Sher playing the infamous knight Falstaff, alongside Jasper Britton as Henry IV, Alex Hassell as Prince Hal and Paola Dionisotti as Mistress Quickly. Further casting will be announced shortly.

These two productions will be joined in July by The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Shakespeare’s early exuberant romantic comedy about friendship and betrayal, directed by Simon Godwin. 

To book tickets and for more information about Richard II, please visit: www.cinemanouveau.co.za | mobi-site: www.sterkinekor.mobi |Ticketline: 082 16789 (VAS rates apply) | Facebook: CinemaNouveau| Follow us on Twitter: @nouveaubuzz. Download the SK App to your smart phone for updates and to make bookings.