Review: The Winter's Tale Live Cinema Broadcast

The Winter's Tale 

Live Cinema Broadcast

Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company

Reviewed on Thursday 26th November 2015

★★★★

I have seen quite a few live theatrical broadcasts since the tradition began with the inception of NT Live back in 2009 and, although the jury is still out over whether or not they are in essence a ‘good thing’, it must be said that the live broadcast of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is a surprisingly powerful stage to screen translation.

Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company to broadcast The Winter's Tale, Romeo and Juliet & The Entertainer

The first promotional image of Judi Dench in The Winter's Tale has been released (see right, click image to enlarge). 

Dench plays Paulina in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's production which opens at the Garrick Theatre on 7th November 2015 (previews from 16th October) and runs until 16th January 2016.

It has also been announced that the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, in partnership with Picturehouse Entertainment, will broadcast three productions of its year-long Plays at the Garrick season live to cinemas worldwide. 

The first Branagh Theatre Live production will be The Winter’s Tale at 7pm on 26th November 2015. Tickets are now on sale. Romeo and Juliet and The Entertainer will also be broadcast, with details to be announced.

Kenneth Branagh said: "In 2015, where theatre making and film making meet is exciting. The cinema broadcasts of our plays hope tochallenge 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. 

Sunny Afternoon's John Dagleish & Zoё Wanamaker join Kenneth Branagh season

It has been confirmed that West End Frame Award winner John Dagleish will play Autolycus in The Winter's Tale which opens the inaugural season of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

The Winter's Tale runs between 17th October 2015 and 16th January 2016 at the Garrick Theatre in rep with Harlequinade in which Dagleish will play a policeman. Shakespeareʼs timeless tragicomedy of obsession and redemption is reimagined in a new production co-directed by Rob Ashford and Branagh, following their staging of Macbeth in Manchester and Manhattan.