Picturehouse Cinemas Launch NT Live

City Screen, the owner and operator of Picturehouse Cinemas, Britain's largest circuit of independent cinemas, has announced an exciting new initiative with the National Theatre - NT Live - through which cinemagoers up and down the country will have the opportunity, for the first time, to see plays broadcast live via satellite from the National Theatre stages directly to their local Picturehouse Cinema.
As well as Picturehouse Cinemas, City Screen will be sub-licensing broadcasts to other independent cinemas throughout the UK, and certain key cities will screen the production through Cineworld and Odeon multiplexes.
The first play to be featured will be the NT's new production Phédre by Jean Racine in a version by Ted Hughes starring Helen Mirren, Margaret Tyzack and Dominic Cooper on June 25, 2009.
The performance will be filmed in high definition and broadcast via satellite to approximately 50 cinemas across the UK and 100 worldwide. Tickets for the live broadcast of Phédre to cinemas will go on sale to NT and Picturehouse Cinema Members from March 23, and to the general public from April 1, priced at £10 (£9 for members).
City Screen's Picturehouse Cinemas have had great success in pioneering the programming of live opera, ballet and other events over the last three years, including the first ever live broadcast of ballet from Royal Opera House and strong ongoing relationships with cultural partners including New York's Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Opera.
Lyn Goleby, Managing Director of Picturehouse Cinemas, said: "I'm delighted that we are lucky enough to partner with the NT in pushing the barriers again with the introduction of this terrific, live material. This is such an interesting way to develop the artform and I can't wait to see the performance in one of our cinemas."
Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director for the National Theatre, said: "I grew up in Manchester in the '60s. If I had been able to see Olivier's National Theatre at my local cinema, I would have gone all of the time."
(KMcA/BMcC)