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The second chapter of the Fantastic Beasts franchise delves back into J. K. Rowling’s enchanting Wizarding World, swapping the hustle and bustle of 1920s New York for the moody streets of Paris a year on, where a slew of new characters and wonderful beasts await discovery.
The powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (a wildly white-haired Depp duded up in heinous style) has slipped the bars of custody and is out to purge the world of all non-magical beings. In a desperate bid to restore harmony, a young Albus Dumbledore (Law) calls upon the help of former Hogwarts student Newt Scamander (Redmayne) to stop Grindelwald and his growing army of pure-blood wizards in their tracks. But this only marks the start of a perilous quest into a world of dark magic.
Natalia Makarova's production of this 19th century classic ballet brings an exotic world of temple dancers and noble warriors to life.
Marius Petipa’s fantasy, set in legendary India, tells the tale of a temple dancer and the prince who loves her but marries another. The famous, moonlit ‘white act’ – The Kingdom of the Shades – is a corps de ballet highlight, as multiple images of the prince’s lost love haunt his mind. The choreography allows two opposing ballerinas to shine, while a bronze idol comes vividly to life in a stunning solo. Throughout, the melody and moods of Minkus’s music perfectly match the fluidity and precision of the classical choreography and the drama of the storytelling.
Fourteen-year-old Joe (Oxenbould) is the only child of Jeanette (Mulligan) and Jerry (Gyllenhaal) – a housewife and a golf pro – in a small town in 1960s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job – and his sense of purpose – he decides to join the cause of fighting the fire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Carey Mulligan is outstanding as the mother struggling to keep her head above water, while Ed Oxenbould shines as the teenage son who witnesses her gradual unravelling. Co-written by Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano’s directorial debut is an elegant and absorbing drama based on Richard Ford’s novel of the same name.
Contains moderate sex references and infrequent strong language.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound, their near-implosion as Mercury's lifestyle spirals out of control, and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid, where Mercury, facing a life-threatening illness, leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. In the process, cementing the legacy of a band that were always more like a family, and who continue to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
It’s 1786 and King George III is the most powerful man in the world. But he, increasingly, succumbs to fits of lunacy, and ambitious politicians and the scheming Prince of Wales threaten to undermine the power of the Crown, and expose the fine line between King and man. Written by one of Britain’s best-loved playwrights Alan Bennett (The History Boys, The Lady In The Van), this epic play was also adapted into a BAFTA Award-winning film following its premiere on stage in 1991. The cast of this new production which is screened from Nottingham Playhouse includes Mark Gatiss and Adrian Scarborough. Directed by Adam Penford.
The second chapter of the Fantastic Beasts franchise delves back into J. K. Rowling’s enchanting Wizarding World, swapping the hustle and bustle of 1920s New York for the moody streets of Paris a year on, where a slew of new characters and wonderful beasts await discovery.
The powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (a wildly white-haired Depp duded up in heinous style) has slipped the bars of custody and is out to purge the world of all non-magical beings. In a desperate bid to restore harmony, a young Albus Dumbledore (Law) calls upon the help of former Hogwarts student Newt Scamander (Redmayne) to stop Grindelwald and his growing army of pure-blood wizards in their tracks. But this only marks the start of a perilous quest into a world of dark magic.
12.00Silver Screen: Aged over 60? Join the Silver Screen Club for discounted tickets and a free tea or coffee at these shows. Usual ticket prices apply to non-Members.
Select:
15.00HOH Subtitled: This screening has subtitles for people with hearing loss
From Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave) and co-writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) comes a blistering heist thriller set against a backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. This contemporary reworking of the ’80s TV miniseries tells the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. In a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Davis), Linda (Rodriguez), Alice (Debicki) and Belle (Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, Brian Tyree Henry and Robert Duvall round out the brilliant cast.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound, their near-implosion as Mercury's lifestyle spirals out of control, and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid, where Mercury, facing a life-threatening illness, leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. In the process, cementing the legacy of a band that were always more like a family, and who continue to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
11.45Silver Screen: Aged over 60? Join the Silver Screen Club for discounted tickets and a free tea or coffee at these shows. Usual ticket prices apply to non-Members.
The second chapter of the Fantastic Beasts franchise delves back into J. K. Rowling’s enchanting Wizarding World, swapping the hustle and bustle of 1920s New York for the moody streets of Paris a year on, where a slew of new characters and wonderful beasts await discovery.
The powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (a wildly white-haired Depp duded up in heinous style) has slipped the bars of custody and is out to purge the world of all non-magical beings. In a desperate bid to restore harmony, a young Albus Dumbledore (Law) calls upon the help of former Hogwarts student Newt Scamander (Redmayne) to stop Grindelwald and his growing army of pure-blood wizards in their tracks. But this only marks the start of a perilous quest into a world of dark magic.
10.30Big Scream: Exclusively for parents or carers with babies under the age of one.
Select:
13.30Silver Screen: Aged over 60? Join the Silver Screen Club for discounted tickets and a free tea or coffee at these shows. Usual ticket prices apply to non-Members.
From Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave) and co-writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) comes a blistering heist thriller set against a backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. This contemporary reworking of the ’80s TV miniseries tells the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. In a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Davis), Linda (Rodriguez), Alice (Debicki) and Belle (Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, Brian Tyree Henry and Robert Duvall round out the brilliant cast.
Fourteen-year-old Joe (Oxenbould) is the only child of Jeanette (Mulligan) and Jerry (Gyllenhaal) – a housewife and a golf pro – in a small town in 1960s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job – and his sense of purpose – he decides to join the cause of fighting the fire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Carey Mulligan is outstanding as the mother struggling to keep her head above water, while Ed Oxenbould shines as the teenage son who witnesses her gradual unravelling. Co-written by Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano’s directorial debut is an elegant and absorbing drama based on Richard Ford’s novel of the same name.
Contains moderate sex references and infrequent strong language.
12.15Silver Screen: Aged over 60? Join the Silver Screen Club for discounted tickets and a free tea or coffee at these shows. Usual ticket prices apply to non-Members.
Sean Harris is on magnificently twisted form as Philip, a troubled children’s puppeteer who is forced to face up to his wicked stepfather (Alun Armstrong, delivering an equally deranged performance) and the dark and surreal secrets that have tortured him his entire life. As Philip deals with his past, he also has to face up to Possum, the hideous hand puppet he keeps in a black leather case, but he finds escaping the will of Possum is as hard as dealing with his demons. (Edinburgh Film Festival)
We are delighted to welcome director Matthew Holness and actors Sean Harris and Alun Armstrong to Pictruehouse Central for a post-screening Q&A.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound, their near-implosion as Mercury's lifestyle spirals out of control, and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid, where Mercury, facing a life-threatening illness, leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. In the process, cementing the legacy of a band that were always more like a family, and who continue to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
The year is 1997 and in a police state future the island of Manhattan has been turned into a maximum-security prison. The rules are simple: once you’re in, you don’t come out. But when the United States president (Donald Pleasance) crash lands an escape pod into the centre of the city after fleeing a hijacked plane, a ruthless prison warden (Lee Van Cleef) bribes ex-soldier and criminal Snake Plisskin (Kurt Russell) into entering the hazardous Manhattan and rescuing the stranded President from the twisted underworld and the demented clutches of its criminal overlord The Duke (Isaac Hayes).
The second chapter of the Fantastic Beasts franchise delves back into J. K. Rowling’s enchanting Wizarding World, swapping the hustle and bustle of 1920s New York for the moody streets of Paris a year on, where a slew of new characters and wonderful beasts await discovery.
The powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (a wildly white-haired Depp duded up in heinous style) has slipped the bars of custody and is out to purge the world of all non-magical beings. In a desperate bid to restore harmony, a young Albus Dumbledore (Law) calls upon the help of former Hogwarts student Newt Scamander (Redmayne) to stop Grindelwald and his growing army of pure-blood wizards in their tracks. But this only marks the start of a perilous quest into a world of dark magic.
12.00Silver Screen: Aged over 60? Join the Silver Screen Club for discounted tickets and a free tea or coffee at these shows. Usual ticket prices apply to non-Members.
From Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave) and co-writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) comes a blistering heist thriller set against a backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. This contemporary reworking of the ’80s TV miniseries tells the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. In a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Davis), Linda (Rodriguez), Alice (Debicki) and Belle (Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, Brian Tyree Henry and Robert Duvall round out the brilliant cast.
12.30Silver Screen: Aged over 60? Join the Silver Screen Club for discounted tickets and a free tea or coffee at these shows. Usual ticket prices apply to non-Members.
Fourteen-year-old Joe (Oxenbould) is the only child of Jeanette (Mulligan) and Jerry (Gyllenhaal) – a housewife and a golf pro – in a small town in 1960s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job – and his sense of purpose – he decides to join the cause of fighting the fire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Carey Mulligan is outstanding as the mother struggling to keep her head above water, while Ed Oxenbould shines as the teenage son who witnesses her gradual unravelling. Co-written by Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano’s directorial debut is an elegant and absorbing drama based on Richard Ford’s novel of the same name.
Contains moderate sex references and infrequent strong language.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound, their near-implosion as Mercury's lifestyle spirals out of control, and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid, where Mercury, facing a life-threatening illness, leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. In the process, cementing the legacy of a band that were always more like a family, and who continue to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
Thomas sets off from Sodor to become the first engine to travel the world. His adventures take him to five continents as he sees deserts, jungles and dangerous mountains.
Kurosawa's masterpiece is a keystone of Japanese cinema, an unforgettable blend of an epic action film and a lyrical work of art.
In feudal 16th-century Japan, a group of samurai are hired by peasants to protect their village from a raid by a gang of ruthless bandits. Out of this story Kurosawa fashions an epic tale with a narrative rich in action, mood and character, and some dazzling imagery, especially in the climactic rain drenched battle scenes.
It’s fitting that the film which inspired The Magnificent Seven itself reflects Kurosawa's admiration of the Hollywood western, in particular the work of John Ford.
“Kurosawa's masterpiece... the epic action scenes involving cavalry and samurai are still without peer” – TimeOut
We are happy for you to bring your dog along to this special dog-friendly screening (you're welcome without a dog too). Before the screening there are a few things to consider:
If you attend this screening with a dog, you'll be issued with a fleece blanket to cover the seat used by the dog or to use as a rug if the dog sits on the floor. During the screenings, we will provide bowls of water around the screen. We will leave lighting levels a little higher than usual during the screening and lower the volume of the soundtrack.
The second chapter of the Fantastic Beasts franchise delves back into J. K. Rowling’s enchanting Wizarding World, swapping the hustle and bustle of 1920s New York for the moody streets of Paris a year on, where a slew of new characters and wonderful beasts await discovery.
The powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (a wildly white-haired Depp duded up in heinous style) has slipped the bars of custody and is out to purge the world of all non-magical beings. In a desperate bid to restore harmony, a young Albus Dumbledore (Law) calls upon the help of former Hogwarts student Newt Scamander (Redmayne) to stop Grindelwald and his growing army of pure-blood wizards in their tracks. But this only marks the start of a perilous quest into a world of dark magic.
Please be aware that we reduce capacity when offering ‘dog-friendly’ screenings, so there may be fewer tickets than usual. We limit dogs to one dog to one adult. For further information, see dog-friendly screening policy in our cinema.
11.00Dog-Friendly: Customers are welcome to bring their well behaved dogs into the cinema for this special screening. Read our Dog-friendly policy before you book at picturehouses.com/dogs
WHITE CHRISTMAS is a treasure trove of Irving Berlin classics, among them ‘Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep’, ‘Sisters’, ‘Blue Skies’, and the beloved ‘White Christmas’. Two talented song-and-dance men (Crosby and Kaye) team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business.
A perennial festive favourite, the film is presented in a stunning restoration.
The Octonauts are a team of adventurers who explore the world’s oceans, rescue aquatic creatures and protect their habitats - from the bustling eco-system along the Amazon River to the deepest depths of the Mariana Trench. Deploying a fleet of aquatic vehicles, Captain Barnacles, daredevil ex-pirate, Kwazii, medic Peso and the rest of the crew embark on missions around the globe before returning safely to their home base, the Octopod.
Episodes featured are: The Great Swamp Search, The Crawfish and The Flamingos.
An extraordinary account of how the Nazis looted the art of Europe and sought to eliminate works which contradicted Hitler’s Aryan vision. Works in the avant-garde styles - Cubism, Surrealism, Expressionism and other modernist genres -were deemed cosmopolitan and communist, and termed ‘degenerate’ art by the Third Reich. This documentary is based on three main sources: the exhibition ‘Degenerate Art’ which opened in Munich in July 1937, and was the Nazi regime’s own exhibition of what was considered despicable, low art; the history of the Paris gallery ‘21 rue La Boétie’, owned by Paul Rosenberg, a prominent Jewish art collector of ‘degenerate’ works; and the collection of Cornelius Gurlitt, which consisted of works of art plundered from Jewish families during the war. The result is a treasure-trove of sensational art works and a timely and compelling account of a regime obsessed with its own cultural identity and destruction.
From Chilean director Sebastián Lelio (A Fantastic Woman), Disobedience is a rare glimpse into prohibited love in a world of unremitting dedication to faith.
Estranged daughter Ronit (Weisz) returns home to north London and an Orthodox Jewish community, following the death of her elderly father, Rabbi Krushka. As soon as she steps foot inside the house of Dovid Kuperman (Nivola), her father's chosen disciple, it's clear her defiant nature doesn't go unjudged. But an attraction to a childhood friend, Esti (McAdams) – Dovid's wife – ignites a secret love affair that transgresses all boundaries and exposes the tight grasp faith holds on sexuality. Through charged silences and stolen glances, Ronit and Esti delve deeper into forbidden territory in search of their lesbian identity. A powerful love story based on Naomi Alderman’s novel.
20.45Discover Tuesdays: Discover stunning cinema. Whether it's a cult classic, an art-house gem or a riveting documentary, there will always be a chance to see something different and brilliant in our weekly slot.
Discover Tuesdays Preview: Discover stunning cinema. Whether it's a cult classic, an art-house gem or a riveting documentary, there will always be a chance to see something different and brilliant in our weekly slot. This week's selection is a special preview screening.
The multi-award winning and critically acclaimed Lincoln Center Theater' production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King And I comes to cinemas in this unmissable event recorded live from London's iconic Palladium. Reprising her Tony Award-winning role, 'Broadway musical's undisputed Queen' (The Sunday Times) Kelli O'Hara (Anna) takes to the stage alongside Tony and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (The King) in a 'powerhouse' (The Times) performance. Also returning to her Tony Award winning role as Lady Thiang is Ruthie Ann Miles. Set in 1860's Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children. With one of the finest scores ever written including; Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, and Shall We Dance, and featuring a company of over 50 world-class performers, The King and I is a testament to the lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre – it is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals.
12-year-old Luis befriends a trio of awkward aliens who've gotten stuck on Earth after watching too much home-shopping network. With a neglectful father at home, Luis decides to escape with the aliens so he can avoid being sent away to a boarding school.
Director: Renny Rye.
Starring: Devin Stanfield, Robert Stephens, Patrick Troughton, Patricia Quinn.
UK 1984. 185 mins + intermission.
The wolves are running in Picturehouse cinemas this Yuletide. Open the Box of Delights and take a wondrous step back in time to Christmas 1984 with Kay Harker, the Punch and Judy Man, Herne the Hunter, Mouse, and co. for a vintage television marathon of the complete six-episode BBC children’s series. Splendiferous!
With thanks to the BFI National TV Archive.
Music: Léon Minkus
Choreography: Alexei Fadeyechev
Libretto: Marius Petipa after Miguel de Cervantes
Cast: Ekaterina Krysanova (Kitri), Semyon Chudin (Basilio), Alexei Loparevich (Don Quixote), Olga Smirnova (The Queen of Dryads), Anna Tikhomirova (A street dancer), Kristina Karasyova (Mercedes)
Inspired by heroic stories of brave knights, Don Quixote of La Mancha and his faithful servant Sancho Panza set out on an adventure to meet his ideal woman, Dulcinea. Cervantes’ hero comes to life in the Bolshoi's critically acclaimed staging of this exalting performance. With panache and sparkling technique, principal dancers Ekaterina Krysanova and Semyon Chudin lead the spectacular cast of toreadors, flamenco dancers, gypsies, and dryads in virtuosic dancing that is quintessential Bolshoi.
In 1940s Indiana, nine-year-old Ralphie dreams of his ideal Christmas gift: a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. But when gruff dad and doting mum regularly respond with “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Ralphie mounts a full-scale, hint-dropping Santa-begging campaign.
12.0012 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
A Christmas treat for the whole family and a classic with a special place in the hearts of ballet fans around the world.
The Nutcracker has long been one of the most delightful ways to discover the enchantment of ballet – and makes for a delicious seasonal treat for all the family.Tchaikovsky’s much-loved music is matched to a magical adventure on Christmas Eve for Clara and her Nutcracker doll. Their journey to the Land of Sweets brings with it some of the most familiar of all ballet moments, such as the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers. Peter Wright’s production for The Royal Ballet keeps true to the spirit of this Russian ballet classic, with period details and dancing snowflakes. The many solo roles and ensembles put the world-class skills of the Company to the fore in this Christmas classic.
Approximate running time: 2 hours 30 minutes, including one interval.
The adventures of a fun-loving three-year-old monkey, Tee, and first-time super-mum, Mo, as they navigate the swings and roundabouts of their life together, learning what it takes to be a son and a mum.
This programme will include:
Mo's New Bed
Mo is excited about her new bed and can't wait to try it out. However, she’s not the only one...
Where did you last see him?
Tee is heartbroken when he can't find his favourite toy ‘Action Ape’ and goes straight to Mo for help. Mo is more interested in helping Tee learn to look for things. Where did you last see him Tee?
Spinny Disc
Tee and Mo discover that the garden isn't big enough for a game of Spinny Disc, when the toy flies over the garden wall and wakes up Mr Og! Mo suggests they move the game to the park, but as Mo is preparing to go, the lure of throwing the Spinny Disc proves too strong for Tee to resist!
Grumpy
Tee wakes up in a grumpy mood. He’s even too grumpy for breakfast! It’s up to Mo to put a smile on Tee’s face but this proves more difficult than she thought – every time she gets him close to smiling, he slips back into the grumps again. How is Mo going to cheer Tee up and get him to eat breakfast?
Mega Action Ape
It seems that all of Tee’s friends have the brand new Mega Action Ape toy. Tee is desperate for one too but it’s not his birthday for ages. However, anything is possible when Mo gets creative.
Song: Bag Full of Love
Home Alone is the beloved family comedy about a young boy named Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left behind when his family takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season. Once he realises they've left him home alone, he learns to fend for himself and, eventually has to protect his house against two bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) who are planning to rob every house in Kevin's suburban Chicago neighborhood.
20.3012 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Culture Shock: Dedicated to bringing you the best in cult and genre films.
It’s 1786 and King George III is the most powerful man in the world. But he, increasingly, succumbs to fits of lunacy, and ambitious politicians and the scheming Prince of Wales threaten to undermine the power of the Crown, and expose the fine line between King and man. Written by one of Britain’s best-loved playwrights Alan Bennett (The History Boys, The Lady In The Van), this epic play was also adapted into a BAFTA Award-winning film following its premiere on stage in 1991. The cast of this new production which is screened from Nottingham Playhouse includes Mark Gatiss and Adrian Scarborough. Directed by Adam Penford.
Broadcast live from the National Theatre, Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power.
Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. In a tragic fight between devotion and duty, obsession becomes a catalyst for war.
Director Simon Godwin returns to National Theatre Live screens with this hotly anticipated production, following broadcasts of Twelfth Night, Man and Superman and The Beaux’ Stratagem.
DIE HARD is surely the ultimate alternative Christmas flick. New York City cop John McClane (Willis) travels to LA to spend Christmas with his estranged wife (Bedelia).
His first stop is the office Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza, where his wife works. But terrorist Hans Gruber (an impeccable performance from Rickman) turns up with some hard-core mayhem in mind, leaving McClane alone in a vest, sans shoes, to save the day.
What follows is some of the best and most iconic action cinema ever to have come out of Hollywood, and will send you off into the night with a very unique Christmassy feeling. Yippee-ki-yay, Father Christmas!
20.3012 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Culture Shock: Dedicated to bringing you the best in cult and genre films.
Home Alone is the beloved family comedy about a young boy named Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left behind when his family takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season. Once he realises they've left him home alone, he learns to fend for himself and, eventually has to protect his house against two bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) who are planning to rob every house in Kevin's suburban Chicago neighborhood.
Overworked and disillusioned with adult life, Christopher Robin (McGregor) is a world away from his idyllic childhood spent with a simple-minded, honey-loving stuffed bear and his friends. But a chance encounter with Winnie the Pooh (Cummings), now tattered after years of hugs and play, reminds him of the days of wonder and make-believe that defined his youth. After a mishap with Christopher Robin’s briefcase, Pooh and the rest of the gang, including Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger, step out of the Hundred Acre Wood and into London to return a few crucial possessions to their old friend – and help him enjoy life again.
Brian Henson directs his late father's creations in the Charles Dickens classic, the best known (and most oft-filmed) Christmas story of all time. Michael Caine plays the old miser Scrooge with Kermit as his long-suffering but ever-hopeful employee Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Cratchit's wife, and a host of Muppets (including the Great Gonzo as an unlikely Charles Dickens) taking other primary roles in this bright, playful adaptation of the sombre tale. Or at least it starts brightly enough--the anarchic humour soon settles into mirthful memories and a sense of melancholy as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future take Scrooge on a journey of his lonely, wasted life. Michael Caine makes a wonderful Scrooge, delightfully rediscovering the meaning of life as fantastic creations from Henson's Creature Shop (developed specially for this film) take the reins as the three ghosts. While the odd mix of offbeat humour and drama undercuts the power of Dickens's drama, this kid-friendly retelling makes an excellent family drama that adults and children alike can enjoy.
12.0012 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
A Christmas treat for the whole family and a classic with a special place in the hearts of ballet fans around the world.
The Nutcracker has long been one of the most delightful ways to discover the enchantment of ballet – and makes for a delicious seasonal treat for all the family.Tchaikovsky’s much-loved music is matched to a magical adventure on Christmas Eve for Clara and her Nutcracker doll. Their journey to the Land of Sweets brings with it some of the most familiar of all ballet moments, such as the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers. Peter Wright’s production for The Royal Ballet keeps true to the spirit of this Russian ballet classic, with period details and dancing snowflakes. The many solo roles and ensembles put the world-class skills of the Company to the fore in this Christmas classic.
Approximate running time: 2 hours 30 minutes, including one interval.
‘Who are those guys?’ Paul Newman is Butch Cassidy (possibly the most likeable outlaw in the West) and Robert Redford is his associate, the fabled Sundance Kid, in this true story of fast draws, wild rides, train and bank robberies, posse chases, a torrid love affair and a new lease of life outside the law in far away South America.
Join Messy Monster and his friends on his magical adventures to the land of OKIDO, learn about science and discover the answers to interesting things, whilst having lots of fun!
This December we are having: A messy night b4 Christmas, A night at the circuits and Bouncing Batwaves!
The multi-award winning and critically acclaimed Lincoln Center Theater' production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King And I comes to cinemas in this unmissable event recorded live from London's iconic Palladium. Reprising her Tony Award-winning role, 'Broadway musical's undisputed Queen' (The Sunday Times) Kelli O'Hara (Anna) takes to the stage alongside Tony and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (The King) in a 'powerhouse' (The Times) performance. Also returning to her Tony Award winning role as Lady Thiang is Ruthie Ann Miles. Set in 1860's Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children. With one of the finest scores ever written including; Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, and Shall We Dance, and featuring a company of over 50 world-class performers, The King and I is a testament to the lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre – it is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals.
FREE SOLO + Q&A with Alex Honnold and filmmakers
To celebrate International Mountain Day on 11 December, join us for a live event of FREE SOLO followed by Q&A with Alex Honnold and directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin. The screening and Q&A will be broadcast live across the UK and Ireland via satellite.
From award-winning documentary filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin, the directors of MERU, comes FREE SOLO, a stunning, intimate and unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold,as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock ... the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park ... without a rope. Celebrated as one of the greatest athletic feats of any kind, Honnold’s climb set the ultimate standard: perfection or death. Succeeding in this challenge places his story in the annals of human achievement.
Based on Charles Dickens’s own performance adaptation, Simon Callow and director Tom Cairns have created a one-man theatrical extravaganza of festive storytelling that is both heart-warming and deeply moving. Following critically acclaimed, sold-out theatre seasons in 2011, 2012 and again in 2016, Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love) returns to wow audiences with this tour de force performance, reimagined especially for cinema. A Christmas must see!
DIE HARD is surely the ultimate alternative Christmas flick. New York City cop John McClane (Willis) travels to LA to spend Christmas with his estranged wife (Bedelia).
His first stop is the office Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza, where his wife works. But terrorist Hans Gruber (an impeccable performance from Rickman) turns up with some hard-core mayhem in mind, leaving McClane alone in a vest, sans shoes, to save the day.
What follows is some of the best and most iconic action cinema ever to have come out of Hollywood, and will send you off into the night with a very unique Christmassy feeling. Yippee-ki-yay, Father Christmas!
10.3012 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Big Scream: Exclusively for parents or carers with babies under the age of one.
This winter, join in the fun and enjoy your favourite Christmas show in the cinema for the first time ever! The much anticipated annual CBeebies Christmas Show is coming to the big screen for a family-friendly cinema experience. The makers of Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol and Snow Queen will delight audiences this year with the classic tale of Thumbelina.
This CBeebies Christmas Show recreates on the big screen the live Thumbelina performance and includes an exclusive, additional show made for cinema audiences only starring the much-loved Justin Fletcher (Something Special) in "Justin’s Countdown to Christmas". This holiday season, laugh and sing along with your favourite CBeebies Stars and be part of a fabulous interactive show for all the family.
New Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin launches his tenure by conducting Verdi’s timeless tragedy. Worldly courtesan Violetta, sung by soprano Diana Damrau, has grown tired of her dissolute life. When the pure-hearted Alfredo—tenor Juan Diego Flórez—declares his love for her, she leaves everything behind to live with him. But his family’s reputation is ruined by his association with her, and Violetta is torn between her feelings for Alfredo and her desire to protect him from scandal. Urged by the young man’s father, she tears herself away and returns to her old life. Alfredo, not knowing the real reason for her apparent betrayal, is heartbroken – and bent on revenge. Directed by Michael Mayer, this new production features a dazzling eighteenth-century setting that changes with the seasons.
This special print features all the lyrics to the stunning soundtrack written by Academy Award and Tony Award winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land). Come in all your finery and sing along with your family and friends!
Curtains up, hit the lights – it’s showtime! Broadway veteran Hugh Jackman returns to his song-and-dance roots in a dazzling feel-good musical about taking risks and chasing your dreams. Inspired by the life of show-business pioneer P. T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman charts one man’s rise from nothing to create a circus spectacle that would become a worldwide sensation – ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’. Jackman stars as the down-on-his-luck Barnum, who gathers a motley troupe of extraordinary performers and changes the face of entertainment for ever. Strutting their stuff alongside him in this rags-to-riches tale are the likes of Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and singer Zendaya, performing catchy original music penned by La La Land duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Based on the critically acclaimed 2008 memoir Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff, Beautiful Boy is a harrowing film about a father’s torment at witnessing his son’s downward spiral, succumbing to the effects of crystal meth and heroin. Actors Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet excel in the roles of David and his son Nic, delivering a marvellously sensitive, largely quiet tour de force, as they take us on a journey of love, pain and hope, navigating through moments of happiness and of utter despair, moments of rehab and relapse. A truly inspiring story of survival and recovery as a family copes with addiction over many years.
New Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin launches his tenure by conducting Verdi’s timeless tragedy. Worldly courtesan Violetta, sung by soprano Diana Damrau, has grown tired of her dissolute life. When the pure-hearted Alfredo—tenor Juan Diego Flórez—declares his love for her, she leaves everything behind to live with him. But his family’s reputation is ruined by his association with her, and Violetta is torn between her feelings for Alfredo and her desire to protect him from scandal. Urged by the young man’s father, she tears herself away and returns to her old life. Alfredo, not knowing the real reason for her apparent betrayal, is heartbroken – and bent on revenge. Directed by Michael Mayer, this new production features a dazzling eighteenth-century setting that changes with the seasons.
Can Christmas be saved? Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere!
10.3012 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Big Scream: Exclusively for parents or carers with babies under the age of one.
An encore screening of the live broadcast from the National Theatre, Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play Shakespeare’s famous fated couple in his great tragedy of politics, passion and power.
Caesar and his assassins are dead. General Mark Antony now rules alongside his fellow defenders of Rome. But at the fringes of a war-torn empire the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony have fallen fiercely in love. In a tragic fight between devotion and duty, obsession becomes a catalyst for war.
Director Simon Godwin returns to National Theatre Live screens with this hotly anticipated production, following broadcasts of Twelfth Night, Man and Superman and The Beaux’ Stratagem.
This screening starts with Laurel and Hardy’s classic short film The Music Box, which depicts the pair trying (and failing hilariously) to move a piano up a large flight of steps.
Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are brilliant as legendary movie icons Laurel and Hardy in Stan & Ollie, the charming and touching story of what would become the triumphant swansong of Hollywood’s greatest comedy double act.
Eager to reignite their film careers, they embark on a gruelling variety hall tour of Britain and Ireland. With the support of their wives Lucille (Henderson) and Ida (Arianda) – a formidable double act in their own right – the duo reaffirm their love of performing, and for each other, as they secure their place in the hearts of the adoring public.
17.4512 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Preview: We're pleased to present exclusive previews of this film at Picturehouse Cinemas, prior to its general release.
Can Christmas be saved? Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere!
This Aardman Animation's family fantasy opens on Christmas night, where Arthur, Santa's youngest son, is on a mission to save Christmas for one little girl.
When one of the girl's presents goes missing, Arthur rounds up his reindeer, fuels up his sledge and sets out into the December sky with Grandsanta and elf Byrony to deliver the present before the morning.
With an impressive British voice cast, ARTHUR CHRISTMAS is sure to warm the cockles of adults and children across the land this winter.
10.3012 Days Of Christmas: A selection of festive favourites to spread the Christmas cheer
Kids' Club: Exclusively for children and their parents or carers. Unaccompanied adults are not admitted.
As the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, Marie’s wooden nutcracker doll comes to life and transforms into a prince! Soon joined by her other toys that have also come to life, Marie and her prince embark on a dreamy unforgettable adventure.
A holiday tradition for the whole family, The Nutcracker sweeps the Bolshoi stage for two hours of enchantment and magic. Along with Tchaikovsky’s cherished score and and some of the Bolshoi’s greatest artists, The Nutcracker remains a treasure not to be missed!
Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three, and he's heading on an epic adventure across the seasons. Will he get back to his family in time for Christmas?
This wonderful animation made by Magic Light, creators of The Gruffalo, The Gruffalos Child and Room On The Broom comes to Toddler Time for the first time.
Don't miss your chance to see it on the big screen.
One of the most popular and enduring films ever made, Frank Capra's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is a gloriously sentimental testament to homely small-town moral values.
Masterfully crafted, the film opens with angels discussing George Bailey (James Stewart), a man so beset with problems that he contemplates a Christmas-time suicide. As George prepares to jump from a bridge his guardian angel Clarence Oddbody intervenes and shows him how badly Bedford Falls would have turned out without his good deeds. Filled with a renewed joy of life George returns to his family for Christmas.
James Stewart gives one of his finest, most affecting performances and the film looks better than ever in its new restoration.
Recent winner of the top prize at Toronto International Film Festival, Green Book is the uplifting true story of an unlikely friendship that transcended race and class.
Set in 1962, Italian-American Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) is hired to chauffeur African-American pianist Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) on a concert tour through the Deep South. Don is aware of the troubles that he might face in different locations due to the colour of his skin and requires someone to act as both driver and bouncer. They must rely on The Green Book, a guide to the few establishments that are safe for African-Americans and embark on a journey that will change both of their lives.
With strong performances from Ali (following his Oscar-winning turn in Moonlight) and Mortensen (A History of Violence), there is also a great chemistry between the leads. Director Peter Farrelly, best known for his crowd-pleasing comedies Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary, succeeds brilliantly in making the vital subject of racial division in the 1960s America into a smart and charming film.
Members’ Priority Booking: Tickets for this show are currently available to Members only
Preview: We're pleased to present exclusive previews of this film at Picturehouse Cinemas, prior to its general release.
The conductor of this New Year’s Eve concert is Daniel Barenboim, one of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s oldest friends. He also takes on the role of soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 26 – a work of sparkling beauty and nuanced expression. There are also four famous works by Maurice Ravel, which create an impressive synthesis of elegance and originality. The final highlight is the Boléro, perhaps the most stunning crescendo in music history.
For the first time at the Met, soprano Anna Netrebko sings the role of Adriana Lecouvreur, the eighteenth-century actress whose real-life intrigues inspired Cilea’s tragic opera. Adriana is adored by many but loves only Maurizio, sung by tenor (Piotr Beczała), who adores her in return. Maurizio desperately tries to extricate himself from his previous lover, the Princess deof Bouillon— mezzo-soprano (Anita Rachvelishvili). When the princess discovers that Adriana is her rival, she takes desperate measures of her own. In this new production directed by Sir David McVicar, the action is partially set in a working replica of a baroque theatre. Gianandrea Noseda conducts the riveting score.
For the first time at the Met, soprano Anna Netrebko sings the role of Adriana Lecouvreur, the eighteenth-century actress whose real-life intrigues inspired Cilea’s tragic opera. Adriana is adored by many but loves only Maurizio, sung by tenor (Piotr Beczała), who adores her in return. Maurizio desperately tries to extricate himself from his previous lover, the Princess deof Bouillon— mezzo-soprano (Anita Rachvelishvili). When the princess discovers that Adriana is her rival, she takes desperate measures of her own. In this new production directed by Sir David McVicar, the action is partially set in a working replica of a baroque theatre. Gianandrea Noseda conducts the riveting score.
A tale of heads of state falling from power, opportunists, powerbrokers and propagandists. Shakespeare’s Richard II is a monarch ordained by God to lead his people. But he is also a man and a weak one at that. His reckless policies include burdening his citizens with taxes, and confiscating the land and wealth of noblemen. His vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic civil war that will last 100 years, while he paves the way for his own deposition by Henry Bolingbroke. This visceral new production, staged at the Almeida Theatre, London, stars Simon Russell Beale as Shakespeare’s narcissistic, arbitrary king. The play is subversively reimagined and directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins (Little Revolution, Absolute Hell). With designs by ULTZ.
Music: Léon Minkus
Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich
Libretto after Marius Petipa and Sergei Khudekov
Cast: The Bolshoi Principals, Soloists and Corps de Ballet
The temple dancer Nikiya and the warrior Solor fall deeply in love, giving way to heated passions, and murderous intrigues when the Rajah and his daughter Gamzatti discover their forbidden love. La Bayadere is one of the greatest works classical ballet history – a story of love, death and vengeful judgement set in India. Dazzling sets, costumes, and one of the most iconic scenes in ballet, the “Kingdom of the Shades,” illuminate the tragic tale of the temple dancer Nikiya’s doomed love for the warrior Solor, and their ulimate redemption. A must-see!
Tchaikovsky's most ambitious opera contains some of his greatest music and is a powerful study of destructive obsession.
In Tchaikovsky’s intense opera of obsession and the supernatural, Gherman is caught between the woman he loves and a destructive fixation. The Queen of Spadesis based on a short story by Pushkin, and comes to the Royal Opera House in a new production that has already garnered five-star reviews in Amsterdam. The production is set in 1890, the year of the opera’s premiere. In his study, Tchaikovsky imagines the opera into life as his own story, its characters giving voice to his unfulfilled desires. Aleksandrs Antonenko and Eva-Maria Westbroek head the cast and Royal Opera Chorus, conducted by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera. This is an engrossing portrayal of a tortured creative artist and a gripping piece of gothic storytelling.
Tchaikovsky's most ambitious opera contains some of his greatest music and is a powerful study of destructive obsession.
In Tchaikovsky’s intense opera of obsession and the supernatural, Gherman is caught between the woman he loves and a destructive fixation. The Queen of Spadesis based on a short story by Pushkin, and comes to the Royal Opera House in a new production that has already garnered five-star reviews in Amsterdam. The production is set in 1890, the year of the opera’s premiere. In his study, Tchaikovsky imagines the opera into life as his own story, its characters giving voice to his unfulfilled desires. Aleksandrs Antonenko and Eva-Maria Westbroek head the cast and Royal Opera Chorus, conducted by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera. This is an engrossing portrayal of a tortured creative artist and a gripping piece of gothic storytelling.
A tale of heads of state falling from power, opportunists, powerbrokers and propagandists. Shakespeare’s Richard II is a monarch ordained by God to lead his people. But he is also a man and a weak one at that. His reckless policies include burdening his citizens with taxes, and confiscating the land and wealth of noblemen. His vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic civil war that will last 100 years, while he paves the way for his own deposition by Henry Bolingbroke. This visceral new production, staged at the Almeida Theatre, London, stars Simon Russell Beale as Shakespeare’s narcissistic, arbitrary king. The play is subversively reimagined and directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins (Little Revolution, Absolute Hell). With designs by ULTZ.
Richard Eyre's beautiful production provides the perfect setting for Verdi's opera about a courtesan who sacrifices all for love.
From the thrill of unexpected romance to a heartbreaking reconciliation that comes too late – Verdi’s La traviata is one of the most popular of all operas. Alfredo falls in love in with the courtesan Violetta in glamorous Paris society, but underneath the surface run darker undercurrents, leading to a tragic ending. The opera’s wealth of melodies includes the famous Brindisi and the exuberant ‘Sempre libera’ – both showing the lyricism of Italian opera at its most immediately appealing. Richard Eyre’s production for The Royal Opera brings out all the emotional colour, from the giddy discovery of love, through painful confrontation to the inevitable conclusion. Lavish period sets and costumes enhance the reality of a moving story based on true life.
I’m Not Running is an explosive new play by David Hare, premiering at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas.
Pauline Gibson has spent her life as a doctor, the inspiring leader of a local health campaign. When she crosses paths with her old boyfriend, a stalwart loyalist in Labour Party politics, she’s faced with an agonising decision.
What’s involved in sacrificing your private life and your piece of mind for something more than a single issue? Does she dare?
Hare was recently described by The Washington Post as ‘the premiere political dramatist writing in English’. His other work includes Pravda and Skylight, broadcast by National Theatre Live in 2014.
Love is a wild bird… Don’t miss this revival of Sir Richard Eyre’s dynamic production. Mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine plays opera’s ultimate seductress, while Roberto Alagna returns to the role of Don José, the good-hearted soldier with whom she unleashes an uncontrollable passion. Don José breaks the law, goes to prison, deserts the army and loses everything to be with Carmen. But the capricious Carmen gypsy soon tires of him and takes up instead with the bullfighter Escamillo—bass (Alexander Vinogradov). She has ruined his life, but still, Don José adores her, with a fierceness that can only lead to catastrophe. Composer Bizet died just three months after Carmen’s disastrous premiere, never knowing that his creation would become one of the most popular operas of all time.
Love is a wild bird… Don’t miss this revival of Sir Richard Eyre’s dynamic production. Mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine plays opera’s ultimate seductress, while Roberto Alagna returns to the role of Don José, the good-hearted soldier with whom she unleashes an uncontrollable passion. Don José breaks the law, goes to prison, deserts the army and loses everything to be with Carmen. But the capricious Carmen gypsy soon tires of him and takes up instead with the bullfighter Escamillo—bass (Alexander Vinogradov). She has ruined his life, but still, Don José adores her, with a fierceness that can only lead to catastrophe. Composer Bizet died just three months after Carmen’s disastrous premiere, never knowing that his creation would become one of the most popular operas of all time.
Richard Eyre's beautiful production provides the perfect setting for Verdi's opera about a courtesan who sacrifices all for love.
From the thrill of unexpected romance to a heartbreaking reconciliation that comes too late – Verdi’s La traviata is one of the most popular of all operas. Alfredo falls in love in with the courtesan Violetta in glamorous Paris society, but underneath the surface run darker undercurrents, leading to a tragic ending. The opera’s wealth of melodies includes the famous Brindisi and the exuberant ‘Sempre libera’ – both showing the lyricism of Italian opera at its most immediately appealing. Richard Eyre’s production for The Royal Opera brings out all the emotional colour, from the giddy discovery of love, through painful confrontation to the inevitable conclusion. Lavish period sets and costumes enhance the reality of a moving story based on true life.
Pablo Picasso is one of the greatest artists of all time - and right up until his death in 1973 he was the most prolific of artists. Many films have dealt with these later years - the art, the affairs and the wide circle of friends. But where did this all begin? What made Picasso in the first place? Too long ignored, it is time to look at the early years of Picasso; the upbringing and the learning that led to his extraordinary achievements.
Three cities play a key role: Malaga, Barcelona and Paris. Young Picasso visits each and explores their influence on Picasso, focusing on specific artworks from these early years. The film thus explains how this young artist acquired his craft. Looking carefully at two key early periods - the so-called Blue Period and Rose Period - the film takes us all the way to 1907 and the creation of a critical painting in the history of art - Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. It was a painting that shocked the art world but changed it irrevocably. Picasso was only 25 years old. Working closely with all three Picasso Museums in Malaga, Barcelona and Paris this film explains how he rose to great heights.
Love and friendship triumph in Carlos Acosta's vibrant production of this dazzling ballet.
Cervantes’s story of the bumbling knight Don Quixote has inspired countless artistic interpretations. Marius Petipa choreographed this sparkling ballet about the encounters of the man from La Mancha and his faithful squire Sancho Panza. At its heart are virtuoso roles for the lovers Basilio and Kitri. Carlos Acosta chose this joyful classic for his first production for The Royal Ballet. His vibrant staging brings together the whole Company in such roles as exuberant villagers, passionate gypsies and even fantasy flowers. The story follows Don Quixote’s picaresque journey to do deeds in honour of his imaginary noble lady, Dulcinea. Sunny, charming, funny and touching – Don Quixote is a ballet as full of uplifting emotion as it is of astonishing ballet technique.
Approximate running time: 2 hours 45 minutes, inclding one interval.
I’m Not Running is an explosive new play by David Hare, premiering at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas.
Pauline Gibson has spent her life as a doctor, the inspiring leader of a local health campaign. When she crosses paths with her old boyfriend, a stalwart loyalist in Labour Party politics, she’s faced with an agonising decision.
What’s involved in sacrificing your private life and your piece of mind for something more than a single issue? Does she dare?
Hare was recently described by The Washington Post as ‘the premiere political dramatist writing in English’. His other work includes Pravda and Skylight, broadcast by National Theatre Live in 2014.
Love and friendship triumph in Carlos Acosta's vibrant production of this dazzling ballet.
Cervantes’s story of the bumbling knight Don Quixote has inspired countless artistic interpretations. Marius Petipa choreographed this sparkling ballet about the encounters of the man from La Mancha and his faithful squire Sancho Panza. At its heart are virtuoso roles for the lovers Basilio and Kitri. Carlos Acosta chose this joyful classic for his first production for The Royal Ballet. His vibrant staging brings together the whole Company in such roles as exuberant villagers, passionate gypsies and even fantasy flowers. The story follows Don Quixote’s picaresque journey to do deeds in honour of his imaginary noble lady, Dulcinea. Sunny, charming, funny and touching – Don Quixote is a ballet as full of uplifting emotion as it is of astonishing ballet technique.
Approximate running time: 2 hours 45 minutes, inclding one interval.
Full of wit and invention, Donizetti’s comic opera is a delight. The famous aria “Ah, Mes Amis,” with its nine high Cs, is known as the Mount Everest for tenors one of opera’s most show-stopping numbers. Bel canto stars Pretty Yende and Javier Camarena takes on the challenging vocal fireworks in this revival, a co-production with London’s Royal Opera House and the Wiener StaatsoperLaurent Pelly’s hilarious staging. Orphaned as a small child and raised by an entire army regiment, the spirited Marie has grown up as the regiment’s ‘daughter’, raising morale and spreading joy. Tonio, a local man, falls in love with her and even joins the army for her sake. But a chance encounter with a noblewoman sparks a sudden revelation, and a tale unfolds of secret identities, long-lost family, and murky pasts.
Full of wit and invention, Donizetti’s comic opera is a delight. The famous aria “Ah, Mes Amis,” with its nine high Cs, is known as the Mount Everest for tenors one of opera’s most show-stopping numbers. Bel canto stars Pretty Yende and Javier Camarena takes on the challenging vocal fireworks in this revival, a co-production with London’s Royal Opera House and the Wiener StaatsoperLaurent Pelly’s hilarious staging. Orphaned as a small child and raised by an entire army regiment, the spirited Marie has grown up as the regiment’s ‘daughter’, raising morale and spreading joy. Tonio, a local man, falls in love with her and even joins the army for her sake. But a chance encounter with a noblewoman sparks a sudden revelation, and a tale unfolds of secret identities, long-lost family, and murky pasts.
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich
Libretto after Ivan Vsevolojski and Marius Petipa
Cast: Olga Smirnova (Princess Aurora), Semyon Chudin (Prince Désiré), Alexei Loparevich (The Evil Fairy Carabosse), Yulia Stepanova (The Lilac Fairy), Vitaly Biktimirov (Catalabutte), Artemy Belyakov (Bluebird), Anastasia Denisova (Princess Florine)
The Princess Aurora falls under the curse of the Evil Fairy Carabosse on her sixtenth birthday, falling into a deep slumber of one hundred years. Only the kiss of a prince could break the spell. A resplendent fairytale ballet perfomed by the Bolshoi, The Sleeping Beauty features scores of magical characters including fairies, the Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, and a beautiful young Princess Aurora performed by Olga Smirnova, a “truly extraordinary talent” (The Telegraph). This is classical ballet at its finest.
Captured live on Jan. 22, 2017
Featuring some of the most glorious music ever written—including, of course, the Ride of the Valkyries —Die Walküre is the second of the four operas that comprise Wagner’s Ring cycle, a story of monsters, gods, and humans on a superhuman scale. When twins Siegmund and Sieglinde find each other at last, Siegmund promises to release Sieglinde from her forced marriage by killing her husband, Hunding. The god Wotan instructs Valkyrie warrior Brünnhilde to defend Hunding. But, moved by the twins’ mutual devotion, Brünnhilde refuses to obey, forging an alliance with Sieglinde that has far-reaching consequences for them both. Soprano Christine Goerke sings Brünnhilde, tenor Stuart Skelton and soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek are the love-struck twins, and Ring cycle veteran Philippe Jordan conducts.
Featuring some of the most glorious music ever written—including, of course, the Ride of the Valkyries —Die Walküre is the second of the four operas that comprise Wagner’s Ring cycle, a story of monsters, gods, and humans on a superhuman scale. When twins Siegmund and Sieglinde find each other at last, Siegmund promises to release Sieglinde from her forced marriage by killing her husband, Hunding. The god Wotan instructs Valkyrie warrior Brünnhilde to defend Hunding. But, moved by the twins’ mutual devotion, Brünnhilde refuses to obey, forging an alliance with Sieglinde that has far-reaching consequences for them both. Soprano Christine Goerke sings Brünnhilde, tenor Stuart Skelton and soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek are the love-struck twins, and Ring cycle veteran Philippe Jordan conducts.
Christof Loy directs a star-studded cast of singers, inclusing Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tezier, in Verdi's epic opera, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Leonora falls in love with Don Alvaro, but when her father forbids their marriage, a fatal accident triggers a drama of obsession, vengeance and tragedy. Jonas Kaufmannand Anna Netrebko star in Verdi’s epic La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny) an opera which demands the very best of singers for its powerful music and the fullest theatrical treatment for its story of bitter revenge pursued across miles and years. The production comes to The Royal Opera in a sensational staging from Amsterdam packed with colour and action. It is directed by Christof Loy and conducted by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera.
Music: Dmitri Shostakovich
Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich
Libretto Yuri Grigorovich and Isaak Glikman
Cast: Nina Kaptsova (Rita), Ruslan Skvortsov (Boris), Mikhail Lobukhin (Yashka) and Ekaterina Krysanova (Lyuska)
In the 1920’s, The Golden Age cabaret is a favorite nightly haunt. The young fisherman Boris falls in love with Rita. He follows her to the cabaret and realizes that she is the beautiful dancer “Mademoiselle Margot,”, but also the love interest of the local gangster Yashka… With its jazzy score by Shostakovich and its music-hall atmosphere featuring beautiful tangos, The Golden Age is a refreshing and colorful dive into the roaring 20’s. A historic ballet that can be seen only at the Bolshoi!
Christof Loy directs a star-studded cast of singers, inclusing Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and Ludovic Tezier, in Verdi's epic opera, conducted by Antonio Pappano.
Leonora falls in love with Don Alvaro, but when her father forbids their marriage, a fatal accident triggers a drama of obsession, vengeance and tragedy. Jonas Kaufmannand Anna Netrebko star in Verdi’s epic La forza del destino (The Force of Destiny) an opera which demands the very best of singers for its powerful music and the fullest theatrical treatment for its story of bitter revenge pursued across miles and years. The production comes to The Royal Opera in a sensational staging from Amsterdam packed with colour and action. It is directed by Christof Loy and conducted by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera.
From the National Gallery, London and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Every Rembrandt exhibition is eagerly anticipated but this major show hosted by London’s National Gallery and Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum was an event like no other. Given privileged access to both galleries the film documents this landmark exhibition, whilst interweaving Rembrandt’s life story, with behind-the-scenes preparations at these world famous institutions. Exploring many of the exhibition’s key works, through contributions from specially invited guests including curators and leading art historians, this Exhibition on Screen favourite makes a welcome return to the big screen marking the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt's death. For many, Rembrandt is the greatest artist that ever lived and this deeply moving film seeks to explore the truth about the man behind the legend.
Come into the forest; dare to change your state of mind.
Rosalind is banished, wrestling with her heart and her head. With her cousin by her side, she journeys to a world of exile where barriers are broken down and all can discover their deeper selves.
Kimberley Sykes (Dido, Queen of Carthage) directs a riotous, exhilarating version of Shakespeare's romantic comedy.
Experience the decadence and elegance of 1870s Paris in David McVicar's spectacular production of Gounod's best-loved opera.
There are many versions of the story of Faust, who trades his soul with the Devil for youth and power, but Gounod’s opera remains one of the most constantly enthralling. Michael Fabiano stars as Faust, with Diana Damrau as his beloved Marguerite and Erwin Schrott as the diabolical Méphistophélès. Virtuoso leading roles, a large chorus, sensational sets, ballet and an ecstatic finale make this the epitome of theatrical spectacle – the lavish scale of French grand opera is wonderfully in evidence in this production by David McVicar, set in 1870s Paris. Above all, the music includes several of popular opera’s most recognizable numbers, performed by a cast of great international singers and the Royal Opera Chorus.
Approximate running time: 3 hours 45 minutes, including one interval. Sung in French with English subtitles.
Experience the decadence and elegance of 1870s Paris in David McVicar's spectacular production of Gounod's best-loved opera.
There are many versions of the story of Faust, who trades his soul with the Devil for youth and power, but Gounod’s opera remains one of the most constantly enthralling. Michael Fabiano stars as Faust, with Diana Damrau as his beloved Marguerite and Erwin Schrott as the diabolical Méphistophélès. Virtuoso leading roles, a large chorus, sensational sets, ballet and an ecstatic finale make this the epitome of theatrical spectacle – the lavish scale of French grand opera is wonderfully in evidence in this production by David McVicar, set in 1870s Paris. Above all, the music includes several of popular opera’s most recognizable numbers, performed by a cast of great international singers and the Royal Opera Chorus.
Approximate running time: 3 hours 45 minutes, including one interval. Sung in French with English subtitles.
Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads Poulenc’s masterpiece. As the French Revolution begins, shy Blanche, sung by mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, becomes a novice nun under an elderly prioress—Met legend Karita Mattila. Blanche’s aristocratic family flees the Terror, but she remains behind, struggling between her fear of the guillotine and her duty to the convent. When the nuns are expelled from the convent and threatened with death, Blanche must make an agonising decision. In the shattering final scene, the nuns walk towards the guillotine singing Salve Regina: Their voices are cut off, one by one, with each stroke of the blade, until all are silenced. Poulenc’s devastating portrayal of faith and martyrdom is live in HD for the first time.
Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin leads Poulenc’s masterpiece. As the French Revolution begins, shy Blanche, sung by mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, becomes a novice nun under an elderly prioress—Met legend Karita Mattila. Blanche’s aristocratic family flees the Terror, but she remains behind, struggling between her fear of the guillotine and her duty to the convent. When the nuns are expelled from the convent and threatened with death, Blanche must make an agonising decision. In the shattering final scene, the nuns walk towards the guillotine singing Salve Regina: Their voices are cut off, one by one, with each stroke of the blade, until all are silenced. Poulenc’s devastating portrayal of faith and martyrdom is live in HD for the first time.
Two recent works and one world premiere showcase the contemporary face of the Royal Ballet.
The contemporary face of The Royal Ballet is shown in works from three of today’s leading choreographers. Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour is based around seven couples separating and intermingling, to music by Vivaldi and Bosso and lit with rich colours suggested by sunset. Crystal Pite’s Flight Pattern, revived for the first time, uses a large dance ensemble and Górecki’s familiar music from his Symphony of Sorrowful Songsfor a poignant and passionate reflection on migration. Between them, a new work by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, created on The Royal Ballet has its premiere to bring the contemporary truly up-to-date.
Carmen Suite
Music: Georges Bizet and Rodion Shchedrin
Choreography: Alberto Alonso
Libretto Alberto Alonso after Carmen de Prosper Mérimée
Petrushka
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Choreography: Edward Clug
Cast: The Bolshoi Principals, Soloists and Corps de Ballet
Carmen is as passionate and free-spirited as ever as she finds herself caught in a love triangle. The passionate one act ballet by Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso originally conceived for legendary Bolshoi prima ballerina Maya Plisetskaya will captivate audiences alongside Petrushka, a new creation for the Bolshoi by contemporary choreographer Edward Clug, in an evening encapsulating the soul of Russian Ballet
Two recent works and one world premiere showcase the contemporary face of the Royal Ballet.
The contemporary face of The Royal Ballet is shown in works from three of today’s leading choreographers. Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour is based around seven couples separating and intermingling, to music by Vivaldi and Bosso and lit with rich colours suggested by sunset. Crystal Pite’s Flight Pattern, revived for the first time, uses a large dance ensemble and Górecki’s familiar music from his Symphony of Sorrowful Songsfor a poignant and passionate reflection on migration. Between them, a new work by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, created on The Royal Ballet has its premiere to bring the contemporary truly up-to-date.
In a reimagined 1590, England is a matriarchy.
Baptista Minola is seeking to sell off her son Katherine to the highest bidder. Cue an explosive battle of the sexes in this electrically charged love story.
Justin Audibert (Snow in Midsummer, The Jew of Malta) turns Shakespeare's fierce, energetic comedy of gender and materialism on its head to offer a fresh perspective on its portrayal of hierarchy and power.
"I envy the Japanese" Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo. In the exhibition on which this film is based - VAN GOGH & JAPAN at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - one can see why. Though Vincent van Gogh never visited Japan it is the country that had the most profound influence on him and his art. One cannot understand Van Gogh without understanding how Japanese art arrived in Paris in the middle of the 19th century and the profound impact it had on artists like Monet, Degas and, above all, Van Gogh.
Visiting the new galleries of Japanese art in Paris and then creating his own image of Japan – through in-depth research, print collecting and detailed discussions with other artists – Van Gogh’s encounter with Japanese artworks gave his work a new and exciting direction. After leaving Paris for the south of France – to what he thought of as near to a kind of Japan as he could find - the productive and yet troubled years that followed must all be seen in the context of Van Gogh bending Japanese influences to his will and defining himself as a modern artist with clear Asian precursors. In this little known story of Van Gogh’s art we see just how important his study of Japan was. The film travels not only to France and the Netherlands but also to Japan to further explore the remarkable heritage that so affected Van Gogh and made him the artist we know of today.
Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers encounter passion and tragedy in Kenneth MacMillan's 20th century ballet masterpiece.
Shakespeare’s enduring love story is known the world over. Since its 1965 premiere with The Royal Ballet, Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet has become a modern ballet classic. The choreography captures the emotions of the young couple as they fall in love, despite the barriers that finally bring about the story’s tragic end. Each revival gives opportunities for new dancers to interpret the doomed lovers. The whole Company brings the colour and action of Renaissance Verona, where a busy market all too quickly bursts into sword fighting, and a family feud leads to tragedy for both the Montagues and Capulets.
"I envy the Japanese" Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo. In the exhibition on which this film is based - VAN GOGH & JAPAN at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - one can see why. Though Vincent van Gogh never visited Japan it is the country that had the most profound influence on him and his art. One cannot understand Van Gogh without understanding how Japanese art arrived in Paris in the middle of the 19th century and the profound impact it had on artists like Monet, Degas and, above all, Van Gogh.
Visiting the new galleries of Japanese art in Paris and then creating his own image of Japan – through in-depth research, print collecting and detailed discussions with other artists – Van Gogh’s encounter with Japanese artworks gave his work a new and exciting direction. After leaving Paris for the south of France – to what he thought of as near to a kind of Japan as he could find - the productive and yet troubled years that followed must all be seen in the context of Van Gogh bending Japanese influences to his will and defining himself as a modern artist with clear Asian precursors. In this little known story of Van Gogh’s art we see just how important his study of Japan was. The film travels not only to France and the Netherlands but also to Japan to further explore the remarkable heritage that so affected Van Gogh and made him the artist we know of today.
Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers encounter passion and tragedy in Kenneth MacMillan's 20th century ballet masterpiece.
Shakespeare’s enduring love story is known the world over. Since its 1965 premiere with The Royal Ballet, Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet has become a modern ballet classic. The choreography captures the emotions of the young couple as they fall in love, despite the barriers that finally bring about the story’s tragic end. Each revival gives opportunities for new dancers to interpret the doomed lovers. The whole Company brings the colour and action of Renaissance Verona, where a busy market all too quickly bursts into sword fighting, and a family feud leads to tragedy for both the Montagues and Capulets.
'To whom should I complain?'
When a young novice nun is compromised by a corrupt official, who offers to save her brother from execution in return for sex, she has no idea where to turn for help. When she threatens to expose him, he tells her that no one would believe her.
Shakespeare wrote this play in the early 1600s, yet it remains astonishingly resonant today. Artistic Director Gregory Doran directs this new production.
