Phedre screening in July

Next month the pilot season of NT Live, the new initiative by the UK’s National Theatre to broadcast plays onto cinema screens & performing arts centres worldwide (including 19 in New Zealand), launches with Nicholas Hytner’s production of Phèdre by Jean Racine, in a version by Ted Hughes. Helen Mirren plays the title role, with Dominic Cooper and Margaret Tyzack also leading the cast.

Consumed by an uncontrollable passion for her young stepson and believing Theseus, her absent husband, to be dead, Phèdre confesses her darkest desires and enters the world of nightmare. When Theseus returns alive and well, Phèdre fearing exposure, accuses her stepson of rape. The result is carnage.

Helen Mirren’s many stage appearances include Mourning Becomes Electra and Antony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre. Her extensive and multi award-winning screen work includes The Queen (Academy Award for Best Actress), Prime Suspect (three BAFTA and two Emmy Awards for Best Actress), Elizabeth I (Golden Globe for Best Actress), Ayn Rand (Emmy Award for Best Actress), Calendar Girls, The Last Station, State of Play and The Madness of King George.

Margaret Tyzack’s distinguished theatre career includes many West End appearances, most recently The Chalk Garden at the Donmar Warehouse, for which she won the Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Actress (the latter shared with Penelope Wilton).

Dominic Cooper last appeared at the National in The History Boys (also on Broadway, international tour and on screen). His recent screen credits include Sense and Sensibility, The Duchess and Mamma Mia.

NT Live performances will be filmed live at the National Theatre on Thursday 25th June and then broadcast to over 270 cinemas and performing arts centres around the world. The performances are nominated in advance to allow cameras greater freedom in the auditorium. NT Live screenings in international venues, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Scandinavia and Europe, are supported by Travelex, the world’s foreign exchange and business payments specialist.

In New Zealand, Phèdre will screen at the following cinemas on the following dates

Berkeley Botany Downs Sat 18th 7.30pm & Sun 19th 4.00pm
Bridgeway, Northcote Sun 19th 5pm & Wed 22nd 8pm
Cinema Gold Havelock North Sun 19th 3pm & Thu 23rd 5.15pm
Cinema Gold Palmerston North Sun 19th 3pm & Thu 23rd 5.15pm
Circus, Martinborough Sun 19th 2.30pm
Embassy, Wanganui Thu 23rd 8pm
Hawera 2 Fri 24th 7.30pm
Invercargill Sun 19th 5pm
Matakana Tues 21st 1pm & Fri 24th 8pm
Metro Christchurch Sat 18th 8.15pm & Sun 19th 6.30pm
Penthouse, Wellington Sun 19th 5pm & Wed 22nd 8pm
Regent Te Awamutu Sun 19th 6pm & Wed 22nd 8pm
Rialto Christchurch Sat 18th 8pm & Sun 19th 2.30pm
Rialto Dunedin Sat 18th 8pm & Sun 19th 2.30pm
Rialto, Auckland Sat 18th 8pm & Sun 19th 2.30pm
Rialto, Tauranga Sun 19th 5pm & Thu 23rd 11am
Shoreline, Waikanae Sun 19th 4pm & Wed 22nd 7:30pm
The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson Sat 18th 8pm & Sun 19th 3.30pm
Victoria Hamilton Fri 17th 7pm & Sun 19th 4pm

Phèdre will be followed in New Zealand Cinemas in late Oct by Shakespeare’s All’s well that ends well with Clare Higgins; in late Feb 2010 by Nation, based on a novel by Terry Pratchett, adapted by Mark Ravenhill; and, in early 2010, Alan Bennett’s new play The Habit of Art with Michael Gambon, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour.