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Dr Faraday (Gleeson), the son of a housemaid, has built a life of quiet respectability as a country doctor. During the long hot summer of 1948, he’s called to a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked. The Hall has been home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, but it’s now in decline and its inhabitants – a mother and her two children – are haunted by something more ominous than a dying way of life. When he takes on his new patient, Faraday has no idea how closely, and how disturbingly, the family’s story is about to become entwined with his own. Based on Sarah Waters’ gothic horror novel of the same name.
Contains moderate threat, bloody images, infrequent strong language.
Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent and Tom Courtenay lead an all-star ensemble of veteran British actors in the unbelievable true story of the Hatton Garden heist. In 2015, a gang of retired criminals stole valuables worth up to £200 million from London’s jewellery district. It was the largest burglary in British legal history, planned so well the police initially believed a group of super-thieves were responsible for the crime. Right under the authorities’ noses, however, was an unlikely crew of silver-haired crooks whose boredom had brought them together for one last job.
Paweł Pawlikowski follows his Oscar-winning Ida with the stunning Cold War, an epic romance set against the backdrop of Europe after World War II. Sumptuously shot in luminous black and white, it spans decades and nations to tell a love story that is as tragic as it is moving, and as transportive as it is honest.
Winner of the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival 2018, Pawlikowski melds the personal with the political to exquisite effect. Set to a soundtrack that takes you from the rustic folk songs of rural Poland to the sultry jazz of a Paris basement bar, it’s a wistful and dreamlike journey through a divided continent - and a heartbreaking portrait of ill-fated love.
From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero. It’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (Washington) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. Teaming up with seasoned colleague Flip Zimmerman (Driver), the young detective goes undercover to take down the extremist hate group from the inside.
Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old balloon salesman, is about to fulfill a lifelong dream. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, he flies away to the South American wilderness. But curmudgeonly Carl's worst nightmare comes true when he discovers a little boy named Russell is a stowaway aboard the balloon-powered house.
13.00Pixar: Off the back of this years much anticipated release of The Incredibles 2 it's the perfect time for Vinatge Sundays to look back at some of the best films from one of the most famous and celebrated studios of all time.
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
'The Dude', Jeff Lebowski is unemployed and as laid-back as they come. That is until he becomes a victim of mistaken identity, and two thugs break into his apartment with the errant belief that they're strong-arming Jeff Lebowski - the Pasadena millionaire. In the hope of getting a replacement for his soiled carpet, 'the Dude' pays a visit to his wealthy namesake...
Dr Faraday (Gleeson), the son of a housemaid, has built a life of quiet respectability as a country doctor. During the long hot summer of 1948, he’s called to a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked. The Hall has been home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, but it’s now in decline and its inhabitants – a mother and her two children – are haunted by something more ominous than a dying way of life. When he takes on his new patient, Faraday has no idea how closely, and how disturbingly, the family’s story is about to become entwined with his own. Based on Sarah Waters’ gothic horror novel of the same name.
Contains moderate threat, bloody images, infrequent strong language.
Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent and Tom Courtenay lead an all-star ensemble of veteran British actors in the unbelievable true story of the Hatton Garden heist. In 2015, a gang of retired criminals stole valuables worth up to £200 million from London’s jewellery district. It was the largest burglary in British legal history, planned so well the police initially believed a group of super-thieves were responsible for the crime. Right under the authorities’ noses, however, was an unlikely crew of silver-haired crooks whose boredom had brought them together for one last job.
Newly single, always wild, Julie throws a late night party. In the kitchen Jean and Kristina clean up to the din of the partygoers upstairs. When Julie provokes a flirtation and initiates a power struggle with Jean, the night plummets into scenes of brutality and a desperate fight for survival. Fuelled by social division, Strindberg’s 1888 masterpiece, Miss Julie, remains shocking and fiercely relevant. Polly Stenham’s edgy and fresh new adaptation brings the classic masterpiece up to date with a contemporary London setting. Directed by Carrie Cracknell (Medea, Oil) with Vanessa Kirby and Eric Kofi Abrefa as Julie and Jean.
Paweł Pawlikowski follows his Oscar-winning Ida with the stunning Cold War, an epic romance set against the backdrop of Europe after World War II. Sumptuously shot in luminous black and white, it spans decades and nations to tell a love story that is as tragic as it is moving, and as transportive as it is honest.
Winner of the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival 2018, Pawlikowski melds the personal with the political to exquisite effect. Set to a soundtrack that takes you from the rustic folk songs of rural Poland to the sultry jazz of a Paris basement bar, it’s a wistful and dreamlike journey through a divided continent - and a heartbreaking portrait of ill-fated love.
Leaving behind their cosmopolitan London life, a couple and their three young children travel the ends of the earth searching for a new perspective on life. In their five-year journey across six continents, they live with some of the oldest indigenous communities on the planet. They gain access to tribal sages never filmed or interviewed before, without a crew or schedule, just one backpack and one camera each. And the curiosity to listen. The film reveals the deep wisdom the family discover in their conversations with these 'Earth Keepers' and its power to transform lives. Having lived in hiding for centuries, the Earth Keepers see that now is the time to step forward and share their insights with those who are ready to listen. The film’s score is written by BAFTA & Oscar winning composer Stephen Warbeck.
18.15Screening includes an introduction: The screening includes an introduction and an open dialogue after the film with the audience facilitated by filmmakers or DOWN TO EARTH ambassadors.
Picturehouse Docs: Bringing you the best in new and topical documentaries covering issues around the world.
Dr Faraday (Gleeson), the son of a housemaid, has built a life of quiet respectability as a country doctor. During the long hot summer of 1948, he’s called to a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked. The Hall has been home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, but it’s now in decline and its inhabitants – a mother and her two children – are haunted by something more ominous than a dying way of life. When he takes on his new patient, Faraday has no idea how closely, and how disturbingly, the family’s story is about to become entwined with his own. Based on Sarah Waters’ gothic horror novel of the same name.
Contains moderate threat, bloody images, infrequent strong language.
10.30Silver 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.
Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent and Tom Courtenay lead an all-star ensemble of veteran British actors in the unbelievable true story of the Hatton Garden heist. In 2015, a gang of retired criminals stole valuables worth up to £200 million from London’s jewellery district. It was the largest burglary in British legal history, planned so well the police initially believed a group of super-thieves were responsible for the crime. Right under the authorities’ noses, however, was an unlikely crew of silver-haired crooks whose boredom had brought them together for one last job.
Paweł Pawlikowski follows his Oscar-winning Ida with the stunning Cold War, an epic romance set against the backdrop of Europe after World War II. Sumptuously shot in luminous black and white, it spans decades and nations to tell a love story that is as tragic as it is moving, and as transportive as it is honest.
Winner of the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival 2018, Pawlikowski melds the personal with the political to exquisite effect. Set to a soundtrack that takes you from the rustic folk songs of rural Poland to the sultry jazz of a Paris basement bar, it’s a wistful and dreamlike journey through a divided continent - and a heartbreaking portrait of ill-fated love.
"When a court determines any question with respect to the upbringing of a child, the child's welfare shall be the court's paramount consideration.” The Children Act, 1989
Based on the much-loved novel by Ian McEwan (Atonement) and brought to the big screen by director Richard Eyre (Notes on a Scandal, Iris), THE CHILDREN ACT is a compelling and powerful drama telling the story of Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson), an eminent high court judge presiding over ethically complex cases. As the demands of her job cause her marriage to Jack (Stanley Tucci) to reach tipping point, Fiona is asked to rule on the case of Adam (Fionn Whitehead), a brilliant young boy who is refusing a life-saving blood transfusion on religious grounds. With her private life in turmoil, Fiona finds herself drawn into the case, taking the unorthodox step of halting proceedings in order to visit Adam in hospital. As the two form a profound connection and powerful emotions come to light, Fiona’s judgement is put to the test with momentous consequences as she must ultimately decide whether Adam lives or dies.
Join Rosie and her friends in their adventures and journeys of discovery! This month we bring you 3 fantastic episodes:
HERE WE GO GATHERING NUTS IN MAY
Big Bear is cooking up a storm in his kitchen but the ingredients keep disappearing! Meanwhile Raggles and Will go on a treasure hunt and Rosie discovers a brand new friend in the garden.
WILL’S MAGIC MOMENT
It’s the day of the Talent Show and everyone puts on their best performance for the critical judges. Will Archie manage to perfect his act in time for the finale and why are Oakley’s jokes so bad…?
THE VERY PRECIOUS SURPRISE
When Rosie notices that Raggles old photo album is falling apart, she joins ranks with Will and Holly to make him a new one. But can they trust Archie not to spill the beans?
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this mob drama, based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). When the don's youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), reluctantly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay (Diane Keaton), he is drawn deeper into the family business.
19.30Discover 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.
Joan Castleman (Glenn Close) has spent forty years sacrificing her own talent, dreams and ambitions to support her charismatic husband Joe (Jonathan Pryce) and his stellar literary career. Ignoring infidelities and excuses made in the cause of his art, she has put up with his behaviour with undiminished grace and humour. The foundations of their marriage have, however, been built upon a set of uneven compromises and Joan has reached a turning point.
On the eve of Joe’s Nobel Prize for Literature, the crown jewel rewarding a spectacular body of work, Joan will confront the biggest sacrifice of her life and some long-buried secrets. Based on the bestselling book by Meg Wolitzer, The Wife is a poignant, funny and emotional journey, a celebration of womanhood, self-discovery and liberation, featuring a stunning cast that also includes Max Irons, Harry Lloyd, Annie Starke, Elizabeth McGovern and Christian Slater.
18.15Preview: We're pleased to present exclusive previews of this film at Picturehouse Cinemas, prior to its general release.
Women's Work: A season of essential films that sees visionary women write, direct or take the lead.
Dr Faraday (Gleeson), the son of a housemaid, has built a life of quiet respectability as a country doctor. During the long hot summer of 1948, he’s called to a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked. The Hall has been home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, but it’s now in decline and its inhabitants – a mother and her two children – are haunted by something more ominous than a dying way of life. When he takes on his new patient, Faraday has no idea how closely, and how disturbingly, the family’s story is about to become entwined with his own. Based on Sarah Waters’ gothic horror novel of the same name.
Contains moderate threat, bloody images, infrequent strong language.
Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent and Tom Courtenay lead an all-star ensemble of veteran British actors in the unbelievable true story of the Hatton Garden heist. In 2015, a gang of retired criminals stole valuables worth up to £200 million from London’s jewellery district. It was the largest burglary in British legal history, planned so well the police initially believed a group of super-thieves were responsible for the crime. Right under the authorities’ noses, however, was an unlikely crew of silver-haired crooks whose boredom had brought them together for one last job.
Paweł Pawlikowski follows his Oscar-winning Ida with the stunning Cold War, an epic romance set against the backdrop of Europe after World War II. Sumptuously shot in luminous black and white, it spans decades and nations to tell a love story that is as tragic as it is moving, and as transportive as it is honest.
Winner of the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival 2018, Pawlikowski melds the personal with the political to exquisite effect. Set to a soundtrack that takes you from the rustic folk songs of rural Poland to the sultry jazz of a Paris basement bar, it’s a wistful and dreamlike journey through a divided continent - and a heartbreaking portrait of ill-fated love.
"When a court determines any question with respect to the upbringing of a child, the child's welfare shall be the court's paramount consideration.” The Children Act, 1989
Based on the much-loved novel by Ian McEwan (Atonement) and brought to the big screen by director Richard Eyre (Notes on a Scandal, Iris), THE CHILDREN ACT is a compelling and powerful drama telling the story of Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson), an eminent high court judge presiding over ethically complex cases. As the demands of her job cause her marriage to Jack (Stanley Tucci) to reach tipping point, Fiona is asked to rule on the case of Adam (Fionn Whitehead), a brilliant young boy who is refusing a life-saving blood transfusion on religious grounds. With her private life in turmoil, Fiona finds herself drawn into the case, taking the unorthodox step of halting proceedings in order to visit Adam in hospital. As the two form a profound connection and powerful emotions come to light, Fiona’s judgement is put to the test with momentous consequences as she must ultimately decide whether Adam lives or dies.
This true story sees real-life rodeo rider Brady Jandreau deliver a heart-stirring performance as a bronco rider who suffers a serious head injury at a bull-riding competition. When doctors advise against his ever competing again, Brady’s left searching for a purpose in life – for what’s the use of a cowboy who can’t ride or rodeo? The film is set on the wide and windy Dakota prairie, where Brady lives in a trailer with his sister (Lilly Jandreau) and their father (Tim Jandreau), all members of a Sioux family that has seen its share of hardship. The actors are non-professional, each playing a version of their real selves. A powerful blending of fact and fiction, and one man’s search for identity in the wreckage of the American dream.
Shakespeare’s tender, violent, moving and shocking play, King Lear sees two ageing fathers – one a King, one his courtier – reject the children who truly love them. This screening of Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2017 production stars Ian McKellen in the role of Lear, his intimate, intricate and conversational performance hailed as a triumph. The play received five-star reviews for its sell-out run and afterwards transferred to the West End for 100 performances only. This contemporary retelling of the great tragedy is directed by Jonathan Munby. Also starring are Sinéad Cusack as Kent and Kirsty Bushell as Regan. Not to be missed.
Dr Faraday (Gleeson), the son of a housemaid, has built a life of quiet respectability as a country doctor. During the long hot summer of 1948, he’s called to a patient at Hundreds Hall, where his mother once worked. The Hall has been home to the Ayres family for more than two centuries, but it’s now in decline and its inhabitants – a mother and her two children – are haunted by something more ominous than a dying way of life. When he takes on his new patient, Faraday has no idea how closely, and how disturbingly, the family’s story is about to become entwined with his own. Based on Sarah Waters’ gothic horror novel of the same name.
Contains moderate threat, bloody images, infrequent strong language.
Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent and Tom Courtenay lead an all-star ensemble of veteran British actors in the unbelievable true story of the Hatton Garden heist. In 2015, a gang of retired criminals stole valuables worth up to £200 million from London’s jewellery district. It was the largest burglary in British legal history, planned so well the police initially believed a group of super-thieves were responsible for the crime. Right under the authorities’ noses, however, was an unlikely crew of silver-haired crooks whose boredom had brought them together for one last job.
From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero. It’s the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (Washington) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. Teaming up with seasoned colleague Flip Zimmerman (Driver), the young detective goes undercover to take down the extremist hate group from the inside.
This true story sees real-life rodeo rider Brady Jandreau deliver a heart-stirring performance as a bronco rider who suffers a serious head injury at a bull-riding competition. When doctors advise against his ever competing again, Brady’s left searching for a purpose in life – for what’s the use of a cowboy who can’t ride or rodeo? The film is set on the wide and windy Dakota prairie, where Brady lives in a trailer with his sister (Lilly Jandreau) and their father (Tim Jandreau), all members of a Sioux family that has seen its share of hardship. The actors are non-professional, each playing a version of their real selves. A powerful blending of fact and fiction, and one man’s search for identity in the wreckage of the American dream.
10.30Silver 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.
The original 3D computer animated story follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average Lego minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.
The final and sold-out concert from Synth-pop pioneers Soft Cell will be broadcast live from London to cinemas across Europe on Sunday 30 September. This landmark event celebrates the band’s 40th anniversary and will be their ONLY and last EVER show. One of the most influential groups to emerge from the UK electronic music scene in the 1980s, Soft Cell released five extraordinary albums and a string of Top 40 singles, including the record-breaking ‘Tainted Love’, probably the most evocative song of the era that continues to inspire today. Featuring all the hits and a spectacular stage show, Soft Cell’s ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’ concert will be an incredible finale on the big screen.
An epic aviation film, based on Tom Wolfe's book, which charts the history of flight from Chuck Yeager's (Sam Shepard) legendary sound barrier-breaking flight in the 1940s, to the first men in space in the 1960s. The story centres on the relentless efforts of several US pilots to break all records set before them, finalising in the US space exploration programme of the 1960s, in which seven pilots were chosen to represent America in the heated space race with the Russians.
12.00Spaced: From Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon to Damien Chazelle's First Man, filmmakers have always been obsessed with taking audiences to the outer reaches of the universe. This Vintage Sunday season celebrates the cinematic exploration of the unknown.
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
This striking and moving documentary from BAFTA nominated directors, Jacqui and David Morris, traces the extraordinary life of Rudolf Nureyev, the most famous male dancer that transcended fame in the dance world to become a pop culture icon of his time. It charts his rise from humble beginnings, to his eventual defection to the West, an event that shocked the world.
The film contextualises not just the man but also the times in which he lived, discussing the politically charged divide between Russia and the West and the critical role that Nureyev played as a cultural and global phenomena.
Blending never-before-seen footage, an original score by award-winning composer Alex Baranowski, and a spellbinding series of exclusive modern dance tableaux directed by Royal Ballet alumnus Russell Maliphant, Nureyev is a theatrical and cinematic experience like no other biopic.
This striking and moving documentary from BAFTA nominated directors, Jacqui and David Morris, traces the extraordinary life of Rudolf Nureyev, the most famous male dancer that transcended fame in the dance world to become a pop culture icon of his time. It charts his rise from humble beginnings, to his eventual defection to the West, an event that shocked the world.
The film contextualises not just the man but also the times in which he lived, discussing the politically charged divide between Russia and the West and the critical role that Nureyev played as a cultural and global phenomena.
Blending never-before-seen footage, an original score by award-winning composer Alex Baranowski, and a spellbinding series of exclusive modern dance tableaux directed by Royal Ballet alumnus Russell Maliphant, Nureyev is a theatrical and cinematic experience like no other biopic.
Lucky follows the spiritual journey of a 90-year-old atheist and the quirky characters that inhabit his off the map desert town. Having out lived and out smoked all of his contemporaries, the fiercely independent Lucky finds himself at the precipice of life, thrust into a journey of self exploration, leading towards that which is so often unattainable: enlightenment. Acclaimed character actor John Carroll Lynch's directorial debut, "Lucky", is at once a love letter to the life and career of Harry Dean Stanton as well as a meditation on mortality, loneliness, spirituality, and human connection.
18.15Discover 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.
Imagine is a cinematic collage of colour, sound, dream and reality produced and directed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. With numerous guest stars including George Harrison, Fred Astaire, Andy Warhol, Dick Cavett, Jack Palance and Jonas Mekas, they create a world of imagination as rich and moving as the music that accompanies it. For this re-release, the film has been frame-matched to the original negative, every frame has been hand cleaned and restored, and the soundtrack has been remixed and remastered in glorious Dolby Atmos and 7.1 surround sound by triple Grammy® Award winner Paul Hicks. The bonus material, including John performing two tracks in the studio with an esteemed group of musicians, including George Harrison, has also been remixed in Dolby Atmos and 7.1 surround sound to make you feel like you’re in the room with them.
The Winter's Tale is Shakespeare's great play of the irrational and inexplicable, illustrating how uncontrollable emotions can range across gender, country, class and age. Its universe is full of monsters, gods and natural disasters with a colossal sweep that takes audiences from the stifling atmosphere of the Sicilian court to the unbuttoned joy of a Bohemian festival. Staged at the beautiful and iconic Globe Theatre in London, this new production is directed by Blanche McIntyre and stars Will Keen (The Crown, Wolf Hall) as Leontes, Priyanga Burford (W1A, Marcella) as Hermione and Annette Badland (EastEnders, Father Brown) as Old Shepherd. A reconstruction of an open-air Elizabethan playhouse on the bank of the River Thames, the Globe Theatre has become a significant part of the national and international theatre landscape, celebrating Shakespeare's transformative impact on the world. Continuing its popular Globe On Screen series, The Winter's Tale will be broadcast live to cinemas on Thursday 4 October 2018.
Superstar soprano Anna Netrebko makes her Met role debut as Aida in this thirtieth-anniversary revival of Sonja Frisell’s production. Verdi’s drama is set in Ancient Egypt, where the Ethiopian Aida lives a life of slavery. She and the Egyptian warrior Radamès, sung by tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko, have fallen in love, although the princess Amneris—mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili—is an implacable rival for Radamès’ affections. Then, when Radamès goes into battle, he unwittingly captures Aida’s father as a prisoner of war. As Aida and Radamès face impossible choices between patriotism, passion, and paternal bonds, the stage is set for tragedy. With heart-stopping music and spectacular set pieces, including the famous Triumphal March, Verdi’s towering masterpiece opens the new Live in HD season with a bang.
Under a baobab tree, an old man tells a story to the children around him: The story of the everlasting friendship between Maki, a little boy aged 10, and Zarafa, an orphaned giraffe, a gift from the Pasha of Egypt to the King of France, Charles X. Hassan, Prince of the Desert, is instructed by the Pasha to deliver Zarafa to France. But Maki has made up his mind to do everything in his power to stop Hassan from fulfilling his mission and to bring the giraffe back to its native land a" even if it means risking his own life a" because he must fulfill his promise to Zarafaas late mother. During an epic journey that takes them from Sudan to Paris, passing on the way through Alexandria, Marseille and the snow-capped Alps, they have many adventures, crossing paths with the aviator Malaterre, a pair of unusual twin cows called Mounh and Sounh, and the pirate queen Bouboulina.
Duncan Jones' contemporary classic, Moon, is back on the big screen for Vintage Sunday, screening alongside Georges Méliès' iconic short film from 1902, A Trip To The Moon.
Sam Bell has been a faithful employee of Lunar Industries for three long years. His home has been Sarang, a moon base where he has spent his days working alone. Two weeks shy of his departure from Sarang, Sam discovers that Lunar Industries have their own plans for replacing him… and the new recruit is eerily familiar.
14.45Spaced: From Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon to Damien Chazelle's First Man, filmmakers have always been obsessed with taking audiences to the outer reaches of the universe. This Vintage Sunday season celebrates the cinematic exploration of the unknown.
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
Leaving behind their cosmopolitan London life, a couple and their three young children travel the ends of the earth searching for a new perspective on life. In their five-year journey across six continents, they live with some of the oldest indigenous communities on the planet. They gain access to tribal sages never filmed or interviewed before, without a crew or schedule, just one backpack and one camera each. And the curiosity to listen. The film reveals the deep wisdom the family discover in their conversations with these 'Earth Keepers' and its power to transform lives. Having lived in hiding for centuries, the Earth Keepers see that now is the time to step forward and share their insights with those who are ready to listen. The film’s score is written by BAFTA & Oscar winning composer Stephen Warbeck.
20.30Screening includes an introduction: The screening includes an introduction and an open dialogue after the film with the audience facilitated by filmmakers or DOWN TO EARTH ambassadors.
Picturehouse Docs: Bringing you the best in new and topical documentaries covering issues around the world.
A new production of one of the funniest plays in English, Oscar Wilde’s THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, will be broadcast live to cinemas from the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End. Wilde’s much-loved masterpiece throws love, logic and language into the air to make one of theatre’s most dazzling firework displays. Jack, Algy, Gwendolyn and Cecily discover how unsmooth runs the course of true love, while Lady Bracknell keeps a baleful eye on the mayhem of manners. This is the fourth and final play from the Oscar Wilde Season, a year-long celebration of the brilliant Victorian playwright being staged by the Classic Spring Theatre Company.
This iconic horror film returns to the big screen in time for All Hallows' Eve, screening from a digitally restored and remastered print, including a pre-recorded introduction from the director, John Carpenter.
On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year- old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.
Superstar soprano Anna Netrebko makes her Met role debut as Aida in this thirtieth-anniversary revival of Sonja Frisell’s production. Verdi’s drama is set in Ancient Egypt, where the Ethiopian Aida lives a life of slavery. She and the Egyptian warrior Radamès, sung by tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko, have fallen in love, although the princess Amneris—mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili—is an implacable rival for Radamès’ affections. Then, when Radamès goes into battle, he unwittingly captures Aida’s father as a prisoner of war. As Aida and Radamès face impossible choices between patriotism, passion, and paternal bonds, the stage is set for tragedy. With heart-stopping music and spectacular set pieces, including the famous Triumphal March, Verdi’s towering masterpiece opens the new Live in HD season with a bang.
103 album releases, 123 single hits and the equivalent of 20 years spent in the UK charts. Britain’s Ultimate Pop Star, Sir Cliff Richard is celebrating 60 years in the music business and he wants to invite you to the most fabulous big screen party of the year! The 60th Anniversary Tour will be recorded live on Friday 12 October and screened at Picturehouse cinemas on Sunday 14 October in celebration of Sir Cliff's 78th birthday. Featuring his greatest hits across six decades, this will be Cliff Richard's most exciting tour yet. His incredible energy and passion on stage will sweep you off your feet and be sure to have you swaying in the aisles.
When commercial towing vehicle Nostromo, heading back to Earth, intercepts an SoS signal from a nearby planet, the crew are under obligation to investigate. After a bad landing on the planet, some crew members leave the ship to explore the area. At the same time as they discover a hive colony of some unknown creature, the ship's computer deciphers the message to be a warning, not a call for help. When one of the eggs is disturbed, the crew do not know the danger they are in until it is too late.
12.00Spaced: From Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon to Damien Chazelle's First Man, filmmakers have always been obsessed with taking audiences to the outer reaches of the universe. This Vintage Sunday season celebrates the cinematic exploration of the unknown.
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
Dangerous desires, family secrets and political intrigues twist through every moment of daring choreography in Kenneth Macmillan's ballet inspired by true events.
Mayerling is a classic of the Royal Ballet repertory, with its emotional depth, haunting imagery, and one of the most demanding roles ever created for a male dancer. Kenneth MacMillan choreographed a complex work around the psychologically tormented heir to the Habsburg Empire, Crown Prince Rudolf. From the ballet’s start, the glamour of the Austro-Hungarian court is contrasted with undercurrents of sexual and political intrigue that drive the story to its violent climax in a double suicide. The large cast allows for impressive ensembles in addition to the ballet's many solos of distinctive character and pas de deux of disturbing eroticism. This ballet, bursting with intensity, madness and passion, proves that sometimes the truth is more scandalous than fiction.
On the centenary of the end of the First World War, Peter Jackson (The Lord Of The Rings trilogy) presents an extraordinary new work, revealing the Great War as you’ve never seen it. Using cutting-edge technology to transform images and audio captured a hundred years ago, Jackson’s passion project brings to life the people who can best tell the story: those who were there.
Using only the voices of the men involved, the film explores the reality of war on the front line; their attitudes to the conflict; how they ate, slept and formed friendships, and what their lives were like away from the trenches. Reaching through the fog of time, Jackson aims to give these men voices, investigate the hopes and fears of the veterans who survived to tell their stories, and detail the humility and humanity of those who represented a generation changed forever by a global war.
World premiere plus live satellite Q&A with Peter Jackson, broadcast from the London Film Festival and hosted by film critic Mark Kermode.
103 album releases, 123 single hits and the equivalent of 20 years spent in the UK charts. Britain’s Ultimate Pop Star, Sir Cliff Richard is celebrating 60 years in the music business and he wants to invite you to the most fabulous big screen party of the year! The 60th Anniversary Tour will be recorded live on Friday 12 October and screened at Picturehouse cinemas on Sunday 14 October in celebration of Sir Cliff's 78th birthday. Featuring his greatest hits across six decades, this will be Cliff Richard's most exciting tour yet. His incredible energy and passion on stage will sweep you off your feet and be sure to have you swaying in the aisles.
Shakespeare’s tender, violent, moving and shocking play, King Lear sees two ageing fathers – one a King, one his courtier – reject the children who truly love them. This screening of Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2017 production stars Ian McKellen in the role of Lear, his intimate, intricate and conversational performance hailed as a triumph. The play received five-star reviews for its sell-out run and afterwards transferred to the West End for 100 performances only. This contemporary retelling of the great tragedy is directed by Jonathan Munby. Also starring are Sinéad Cusack as Kent and Kirsty Bushell as Regan. Not to be missed.
Tony Award-winning director Darko Tresnjak gives Saint-Saëns’s biblical epic its first new Met production in twenty years. Blessed with immense physical strength, Hebrew leader Samson is sworn to defend his people and his faith from the Philistines. Though his body is strong, his heart is tender, though. When the Philistine Dalila sets out to seduce him, he is powerless to resist. The beautiful aria “Mon Coeur S’ouvre à ta Vvoix ” marks the climax of his seduction—and his betrayal. He reveals to Dalila the secret of his strength, and immediately, his fate is sealed. Imprisoned, blinded, and humiliated, how can Samson atone for his folly? Soprano Elīna Garanča and tenor Roberto Alagna sing the title roles, with Sir Mark Elder conducting.
From the creators of the Academy Award® nominated Ernest & Celestine comes The Big Bad Fox And Other Tales, a hilarious adventure about a gang of animal misfits. Told through beautiful hand drawn animation, the story unfolds around these lovable countryside creatures as they try (and fail), to fulfil their traditional roles in the farm and the forest.
A lazy stork leaves the delivery of a baby in the care of a rabbit, a pig and a duck. A big, bad fox tries to live up to his reputation whilst he unwittingly adopts three confused baby chicks and in the film's final tale, the animals embark on a hair-brained scheme to replace Father Christmas.
Featuring a host of voices from the world of British comedy, including Bill Bailey, Adrian Edmondson, Justin Edwards, Matthew Goode, Celia Imrie, Phill Jupitus and Giles New, The Big Bad Fox And Other Tales is a heart-warming portrayal of the pitfalls of family life.
Adapted from the novel by Stanislaw Lem, Solaris remains one of Tarkovsky's most famous films. Remade many years later by Steven Soderbergh, this original version of Solaris is a meditation on the nature of desire and memory, and the self-imposed walls that keep us from realising our greatest wishes.
Tarkovsky reportedly re-shot more than 40% of the film, despite the constant protestations of his Soviet Film Board superiors. The film's visual sense and pacing are extraordinary, while the central idea of a man's wish to correct the mistakes of his past is given a cinematic quality that is its exact visual equivalent.
14.45Spaced: From Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon to Damien Chazelle's First Man, filmmakers have always been obsessed with taking audiences to the outer reaches of the universe. This Vintage Sunday season celebrates the cinematic exploration of the unknown.
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
Dangerous desires, family secrets and political intrigues twist through every moment of daring choreography in Kenneth Macmillan's ballet inspired by true events.
Mayerling is a classic of the Royal Ballet repertory, with its emotional depth, haunting imagery, and one of the most demanding roles ever created for a male dancer. Kenneth MacMillan choreographed a complex work around the psychologically tormented heir to the Habsburg Empire, Crown Prince Rudolf. From the ballet’s start, the glamour of the Austro-Hungarian court is contrasted with undercurrents of sexual and political intrigue that drive the story to its violent climax in a double suicide. The large cast allows for impressive ensembles in addition to the ballet's many solos of distinctive character and pas de deux of disturbing eroticism. This ballet, bursting with intensity, madness and passion, proves that sometimes the truth is more scandalous than fiction.
Following its record-breaking sell-out run in London’s West End and national tour, the critically acclaimed Funny Girl is coming to a cinema near you. Featuring “an unforgettable star turn” (The Times) from Sheridan Smith, Funny Girl is a semi-biographical musical based on the life and career of Broadway star, film actress and comedienne Fanny Brice (a role made famous by Barbara Streisand on Broadway and in the 1968 film adaptation), and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nick Arnstein.
Praised by critics for its charm, wit and warmth, Funny Girl features a host of timeless musical numbers including People, I’m The Greatest Star and Don’t Rain On My Parade.
Tony Award-winning director Darko Tresnjak gives Saint-Saëns’s biblical epic its first new Met production in twenty years. Blessed with immense physical strength, Hebrew leader Samson is sworn to defend his people and his faith from the Philistines. Though his body is strong, his heart is tender, though. When the Philistine Dalila sets out to seduce him, he is powerless to resist. The beautiful aria “Mon Coeur S’ouvre à ta Vvoix ” marks the climax of his seduction—and his betrayal. He reveals to Dalila the secret of his strength, and immediately, his fate is sealed. Imprisoned, blinded, and humiliated, how can Samson atone for his folly? Soprano Elīna Garanča and tenor Roberto Alagna sing the title roles, with Sir Mark Elder conducting.
Puccini’s gunpowder western returns to the stage where it premiered under Arturo Toscanini. Gold Rush, 1849. Bar owner Minnie looks after a crew of rough miners while fending off the unwanted attention of the local sheriff. When a tall, mysterious stranger walks into the bar, it looks as if her life is about to change. But the newcomer is not what he seems, and Minnie gets drawn into deadly peril. Boasting gunfights, poker games, and stagecoach robbers, La Fanciulla del West combines the action of a great adventure with the emotional punch of Italian opera. Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek sings the role of the gunslinging heroine, alongside Jonas Kaufmann as the outlaw who steals her heart. Marco Armiliato conducts.
In Sony Pictures Animation"s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, join our favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else"s vacation at the hotel. It"s smooth sailing for Drac"s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare when Mavis realizes Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could destroy all of monsterkind.
NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.
12.00Spaced: From Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon to Damien Chazelle's First Man, filmmakers have always been obsessed with taking audiences to the outer reaches of the universe. This Vintage Sunday season celebrates the cinematic exploration of the unknown.
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
Antonio Pappano conducts an international cast in the second opera of Richard Wagner's epicder Ring Des Nibelungen.
Wagner’s Ring cycle is one of the greatest works of all opera. Keith Warner’s production is conducted by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, and this final revival is cast with an outstanding international array of Wagnerian specialist singers. The full cycle's four operas journey from the beginning of a world to its destruction, with gods, heroes and monsters. This epic myth portrays every type of human emotion in music and ideas of extraordinary power. The Ring is always a special event in the operatic calendar: once experienced, never forgotten.
Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) is the second opera in the cycle, and features several of the Ring’s musical highlights – the sparkling Magic Fire Music and the electrifying Ride of the Valkyries. But among the musical fireworks and Norse mythology, at the centre of this opera are the unforgettable characters and the complex entanglements between them, including twins Siegmund and Sieglinde, and Wotan and his Valkyrie daughter, Brünnhilde.
Approximate running time: 4 hours 50 minutes, including two intervals. Sung in German with English subtitles.
When all-American couple Janet and Brad’s car breaks down outside an Old Dark House, they’re in for a night of frights and frolics at the hands of Dr Frank N. Furter and all manner of kinky Transylvanians in this cult musical comedy.
Contains moderate sex and one use of strong language.
Wagner’s Ring cycle is one of the greatest works of all opera. Keith Warner’s production is conducted by Antonio Pappano, Music Director of The Royal Opera, and this final revival is cast with an outstanding international array of Wagnerian specialist singers. The full cycle's four operas journey from the beginning of a world to its destruction, with gods, heroes and monsters. This epic myth portrays every type of human emotion in music and ideas of extraordinary power. The Ring is always a special event in the operatic calendar: once experienced, never forgotten.
Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) is the second opera in the cycle, and features several of the Ring’s musical highlights – the sparkling Magic Fire Music and the electrifying Ride of the Valkyries. But among the musical fireworks and Norse mythology, at the centre of this opera are the unforgettable characters and the complex entanglements between them, including twins Siegmund and Sieglinde, and Wotan and his Valkyrie daughter, Brünnhilde.
Approximate running time: 4 hours 50 minutes, including two intervals. Sung in German with English subtitles.
Alan Bennett’s rousing state-of-the-nation drama set in an old fashioned cradle-to-grave NHS hospital, threatened with closure. Geriatric patients’ singalongs and Bennett’s stinging wit entertain and provoke in this sharp, funny and political new play.
Puccini’s gunpowder western returns to the stage where it premiered under Arturo Toscanini. Gold Rush, 1849. Bar owner Minnie looks after a crew of rough miners while fending off the unwanted attention of the local sheriff. When a tall, mysterious stranger walks into the bar, it looks as if her life is about to change. But the newcomer is not what he seems, and Minnie gets drawn into deadly peril. Boasting gunfights, poker games, and stagecoach robbers, La Fanciulla del West combines the action of a great adventure with the emotional punch of Italian opera. Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek sings the role of the gunslinging heroine, alongside Jonas Kaufmann as the outlaw who steals her heart. Marco Armiliato conducts.
Heralded in 1968 as the most striking sci-fi film ever, Stanley Kubrick’s epic meditation on human evolution shines brilliantly almost half a decade later. The film opens with the discovery of a mysterious monolith by prehistoric, ape-like hominids. The narrative then jumps to the 21st century, when a scientist (William Sylvester) landing on the moon discovers an identical obelisk. Eighteen months later, a pair of astronauts (Dullea and Lockwood) journey to Jupiter in search of the monoliths with the aid of their omnipresent speaking computer, known as HAL 9000 (eerily voiced by Douglas Rain). The mission is fraught with tension and murderous intent as HAL begins to endanger the astronauts’ lives. Often regarded as a metaphor and moral allegory, Kubrick’s film is a visual tour de force with a stunning soundtrack.
12.00Spaced: From Georges Méliès' A Trip to the Moon to Damien Chazelle's First Man, filmmakers have always been obsessed with taking audiences to the outer reaches of the universe. This Vintage Sunday season celebrates the cinematic exploration of the unknown.
Vintage Sundays: Classic films back on the big screen where they belong.
Set in a fantasy 18th century Vienna, Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier is a delightful comedy, gilded in some of the composer’s most exquisite music. ‘I have spent three quiet afternoons drafting…the scenario for an opera,’ wrote librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. ‘It is full of burlesque situations and characters... almost like a pantomime. There are opportunities in it for lyrical passages, for fun and humour.’
The Field Marshall’s wife, the Marschallin, is in love with the young Count Octavian Rofrano, but knows their liaison cannot last. When the young man meets the beautiful Sophie, the Marschallin understands that she must give him up to her rival, and give her blessing to the marriage that will secure his happiness. But her cousin, the lusty Baron Ochs, also has designs on Sophie and her father’s wealth, and the young lovers must scheme and plot to extricate Sophie from her engagement to the boorish Baron.
A sensuous score Strauss himself compared to ‘melted butter’ runs thick with golden strings and sparkling woodwind, conjuring a fairy-tale-like romance from a plot that blends comedy and tragedy to intoxicating effect.
Under the watchful gaze of his young assistant, and the threatening presence of a new generation of artists, Mark Rothko takes on his greatest challenge yet: to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting. MGC Artistic Director Michael Grandage directs this first ever UK revival since directing the world premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in 2009. The production went on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Play. Award-winning stage and screen actor Alfred Molina reprises his critically acclaimed performance as the American abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko. He is joined by rising star Alfred Enoch of US television drama series How to Get Away With Murder as his assistant Ken.
From The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Exhibition on Screen journeys from the streets of Paris to the heart of a superb exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, whose extensive collection of Degas’ works is the most representative in Britain. With exclusive access to view rare and diverse works, this film tells a fascinating story of Degas’ pursuit for perfection through both experimentation with new techniques and lessons learnt from studying the past masters.
Sometimes frustrated by his own failings, Degas was consumed by obsessive principles and failing eye sight but his determination to capture everyday life was evident in every mark he made. Never fully satisfied, many of Degas’ drawings and sculptures were kept in private during his lifetime but, now through close examination, they can be seen as some of the most beautifully detailed and expressive works in the modern era. Using written accounts by friends and commentators, and the narration of letters written by Degas himself, this film reveals a more complex truth behind one of the most influential French artists of the late 19th-century and serves as an exploration of the complex workings of Degas’ artistic mind.
“Art is not a matter of what you see, but what you make other people see.” Edgar Degas
Alan Bennett’s rousing state-of-the-nation drama set in an old fashioned cradle-to-grave NHS hospital, threatened with closure. Geriatric patients’ singalongs and Bennett’s stinging wit entertain and provoke in this sharp, funny and political new play.
A young woman lies, cheats, and steals her way through life, propelled by compulsions she can neither control nor understand. A wealthy man catches her red-handed and blackmails her into marrying him. Will the truth about her past send her to jail or set her free? Based on the novel that also inspired Hitchcock’s celebrated thriller, composer Nico Muhly’s Marnie was co-commissioned and co-produced with the English National Opera and receives its U.S. premiere at the Met this season. Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard stars in the title role, opposite baritone Christopher Maltman as her husband. Costume design is by Madonna’s collaborator of twenty years, Arianne Phillips, who created every item seen on stage in this stylish, vivid production.
Music: Herman Severin Løvenskiold
Choreography: Johan Kobborg after August Bournonville
Libretto: Adolphe Nourrit and Filippo Taglioni
Cast: The Bolshoi Principals, Soloists and Corps de Ballet
On the day of his wedding, the young Scotsman James is awoken with a kiss from an ethereal winged creature, a Sylph. Entranced by her beauty, James risks everything to pursue an unattainable love… La Sylphide is one of the world’s oldest surviving ballets, and a treasure in the Danish Bournonville style. Restaged for the Bolshoi by Bournonville expert Johan Kobborg, this production is the ultimate romantic masterpiece.
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.
From The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Exhibition on Screen journeys from the streets of Paris to the heart of a superb exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, whose extensive collection of Degas’ works is the most representative in Britain. With exclusive access to view rare and diverse works, this film tells a fascinating story of Degas’ pursuit for perfection through both experimentation with new techniques and lessons learnt from studying the past masters.
Sometimes frustrated by his own failings, Degas was consumed by obsessive principles and failing eye sight but his determination to capture everyday life was evident in every mark he made. Never fully satisfied, many of Degas’ drawings and sculptures were kept in private during his lifetime but, now through close examination, they can be seen as some of the most beautifully detailed and expressive works in the modern era. Using written accounts by friends and commentators, and the narration of letters written by Degas himself, this film reveals a more complex truth behind one of the most influential French artists of the late 19th-century and serves as an exploration of the complex workings of Degas’ artistic mind.
“Art is not a matter of what you see, but what you make other people see.” Edgar Degas
"Lechery, lechery, still wars and lechery: nothing else holds fashion"
Troilus and Cressida swear they will always be true to one another. But in the seventh year of the siege of Troy their innocence is tested, and exposed to the savage corrupting influence of war, with tragic consequences.
Virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie collaborates with RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran to create a satirical futuristic vision of a world resounding with the rhythm of battle, broadcast live to cinemas from Shakespeare's home town.
The Greek army is encamped under the walls of Troy and, at the point at which the play begins, the war has reached stalemate. The Greeks are quarrelling amongst themselves. Achilles, their greatest champion, refuses to fight and has withdrawn to his tent with his lover, Patroclus. Equally at odds with themselves, the Trojans are debating the value of continuing the war merely for the sake of keeping Helen.
Troilus is much distracted from these military concerns by his love for Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan who has defected to the Greek camp. The young lovers are eagerly assisted by Cressida's uncle Pandarus, who acts as their go-between. However, after only one night together they are parted when Cressida is sent to join her father in the Greek camp. Almost immediately she betrays Troilus with the Greek Diomedes and, discovering this, Troilus is plunged into despair.
With the fall of Troy certain, Troilus vows revenge on Achilles.
In Japanese with English subtitles - One day, Kun's mother brings home a new family member. For the four year old boy, joy quickly turns to disappointment when the little sister, Mirai, replaces him as the centre of attention. Kun can't bring himself to accept her as his sister however things turn magical when, with a mysterious garden as his gateway, he encounters his mother as a little girl and his great-grandfather as a young man, and has a series of surprising adventures with his 'older' sister from the future. These experiences change how he sees the world and help him grow in to the big brother he was meant to be.
A young woman lies, cheats, and steals her way through life, propelled by compulsions she can neither control nor understand. A wealthy man catches her red-handed and blackmails her into marrying him. Will the truth about her past send her to jail or set her free? Based on the novel that also inspired Hitchcock’s celebrated thriller, composer Nico Muhly’s Marnie was co-commissioned and co-produced with the English National Opera and receives its U.S. premiere at the Met this season. Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard stars in the title role, opposite baritone Christopher Maltman as her husband. Costume design is by Madonna’s collaborator of twenty years, Arianne Phillips, who created every item seen on stage in this stylish, vivid production.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Yuri Grigorovich
Libretto: Yuri Grigorovich
Cast: The Bolshoi Principals, Soloists and Corps de Ballet
On Christmas Eve, Marie’s Nutcracker doll magically transforms into a prince and their wonderful adventure begins. The holiday classic returns to the majestic Bolshoi stage for a live broadcast of a timeless story, The Nutcracker, taking audiences of all ages on a magical journey through a world of enchantment complete with dancing snowflakes and dolls that have come to life, accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s beloved score.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
