The National Theatre (London, UK) is trying to spread theatrical love across the world with its launch this year of NT LIVE. This pioneering scheme promises to open up the experience of their world class productions to wider audiences, as the National Theatre broadcast live-captured performances of plays to cinemas throughout the globe. NT LIVE’s pilot season is firmly underway with its second production, All’s Well That Ends Well, coming to cinemas around Australia this weekend - 17th and 18th October.
Whilst time constraints make it impossible for Australia and other regions to see the live performance at the same time as the production (the play was screened in cinemas in UK and US earlier this month) the screenings this weekend are the same live performance seen in the Northern Hemisphere; there has been no additional editing.
It was the final night of All’s Well That Ends Well that was chosen to be recorded for the NT LIVE programme. This seldom performed Shakespeare comedy was recorded using nine HD cameras around the venue, the prestigious Olivier Theatre. Certainly there are both pros and cons to watching a play in the cinema, captured in a filmic way. The atmosphere of the live theatre environment is not easily transplanted. While this experiment of translating the stage to the screen is not the equivalent of seeing the live production, surely it is the next best thing.
click here to read full review at Trespass
click here to read full review at Trespass
