Wednesday 9 September 2009

Shakespeare on stage for 2 nights only this October


Both theatre and big-screen fans get a two-in-one package deal. Cinema Nouveau has confirmed that Shakespeare’s popular romantic tragicomedy-fantasy ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL will be the next title for their series of live theatre-screenings at Cinema Nouveau. The play will be filmed live on stage at the National Theatre in London (as part of their NT Live-season, broadcasting theatre live to cinemas around the world), and screened exclusively in High Definition-quality at Cinema Nouveau Theatres on 22 and 28 October at 20:00.

The National Theatre London’s production of ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is directed by Marianne Elliott, and stars Michelle Terry and George Rainsford, with set designs by Rae Smith and lighting by Peter Mumford. “Marianne Elliott's wondrous revival... a fairytale for grown ups,” says The Guardian; while The Sunday Times UK proclaims it to be “a masterpiece!”

“The performances are uniformly excellent...Marianne Elliott's direction has a clarity not short of visionary,” states The Evening Standard. The Observer’s reviewer said that he would “…love to see it all over again!”

Set against a background of sexism, snobbery and a battle between the generations, Shakespeare's ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL turns fairytale logic on its head. A wondrous, bittersweet story following the feisty but lowly Helena (Michelle Terry), who falls in love with Bertram (George Rainsford), a haughty count. To gain his hand, she is set a string of impossible tasks. Even if accomplished, they can hardly guarantee his love. He refuses to bed her and yet says he'll only be hers if she bears his child; and he lusts after another. Nevertheless, our heroine, whether wisely or no, refuses to give him up.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is one of Shakespeare’s most enigmatic plays. It is part of that trio of early seventeenth-century works – the others are Troilus and Cressida and Measure for Measure – which are traditionally referred to as the ‘problem plays’ or the ‘dark comedies’. Nowadays we might call them ‘Shakespeare noir’.


Shakespeare’s ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL will be screened for two nights only, on 22 & 28 October at 20:00, at all 7 Cinema Nouveau-theatres nationwide; ticket price is R200 per person, which includes a full red-carpet theatre experience & refreshments:


  • Cinema Nouveau Rosebank (Jhb)

  • Cinema Nouveau Cedar Square (Fourways, Jhb)

  • Cinema Nouveau Bedford Centre (Bedfordview, Jhb)

  • Cinema Nouveau Brooklyn Mall (Pta)

  • Cinema Nouveau V&A Waterfront (CT)

  • Cinema Nouveau Cavendish Square (CT)

  • Cinema Nouveau Gateway (Umhlanga Rocks, Dbn)



    • Cinema Nouveau has acquired all the NT Live-titles for live theatre at Cinema Nouveau via international distributor BY Experience. This is the company that’s also behind the hugely successful Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – which is having its 3rd season-premiere at Nouveau later this year. The screening of NT Live’s ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL follows on the success of PHEDRE, which successfully launched live theatre at Cinema Nouveau to sold-out shows a few months ago.

      ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is released by Ster-Kinekor Select in South Africa.

      Cinema Nouveau offers customers multiple booking and information gathering options, including online bookings either on your WAP-enabled cell phone or PC via www.sterkinekor.com ; or by calling TicketLine 082 16789 (value added service rates apply), or book in cinema at the self service terminals (SSTs) or Box Offices. Ster-Kinekor Theatres – Always Better on our Big Screen.

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