Helen Mirren Live From London into NZ cinemas

For Immediate Release Monday 18th May 2009

Dame Helen Mirren and Dominic Cooper captured live from The National Theatre in London - to screen in cinemas around New Zealand this July

Dame Helen Mirren and Dominic Cooper from stage to screen, captured live from The National Theatre in London will be screened in cinemas here for a strictly limited season.
NT Live is a new initiative by the UK’s National Theatre which will see plays broadcast from the stage to over 220 cinema venues around the world.

The first play to be featured will be the highly anticipated new production of PHÈDRE by Jean Racine - a version by the late Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes. It stars Oscar winner Dame Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN, GOSFORD PARK, CALENDAR GIRLS) in the title role alongside rising British star Dominic Cooper (MAMMA MIA, THE HISTORY BOYS, THE DUCHESS, THE ESCAPIST). It will be filmed live on June 25 2009 and New Zealand cinema audiences will be amongst only a very few select countries worldwide that are being granted the opportunity to participate.

Of her performance in PHÈDRE, Dame Helen Mirren comments, “I am very happy to have the opportunity to play PHÈDRE - a rich, complex and demanding role – and to be part of NT Live, this grand new adventure for the National Theatre.” NT Director Nicholas Hytner adds “The NT Live events are designed to bring what we do on the stages of the National to a far greater number of people than we would ever be able to reach.”

The broadcast comes in the wake of other similar cinema initiatives, such as the groundbreaking Metropolitan Opera series.

PHÈDRE will screen across New Zealand in up to 20 cinemas, in a strictly limited season between Friday 17th and Friday 24th July only. Participating locations are scheduled to have two screenings only and thus it is expected to sell out.

There are three further shows in the pilot season just announced including; Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well, Nation - based on Terry Pratchett's novel and The Habit of Art - Alan Bennett's new play featuring Sir Michael Gambon, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour. The performances will be nominated in advance to allow cameras greater freedom in the auditorium. Broadcasts will also feature behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with artists.

This will undoubtedly open the walls of the National Theatre inviting cinema audiences around the country and the world to share in the work the National Theatre creates.

For more information, including a video of Dame Helen Mirren introducing the NT Live concept visit: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/45470/nt-live/what-is-it-how-does-it-work.html
or go to www.rialtodistribution.com for confirmed screening locations.

Tickets can be purchased at participating cinemas from today.

ENDS

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