Ballet, Shakespeare and Shaw to Light Up The Fugard Bioscope Screen this June

Winter is sure to be warmer with The Fugard Bioscope's screenings of the best of world theatre and ballet from the National Theatre, the Royal Ballet and the Globe this June. Next month, ballet, Shakespeare and Shaw will be screened in the Fugard's state-of-the-art bioscope, with its 7.1 Dolby Digital surround sound system and full-size high definition cinema screen, and audiences are invited to see watch there international productions from the comfort of a seat at the Fugard Theatre.

First up, on 4 June, is The Royal Ballet's production of WOOLF WORKS, the first revival of Wayne McGregor's critically acclaimed ballet triptych, inspired by the pioneering literary works of Virginia Woolf. Multiple award-winning choreographer McGregor has long been at the cutting edge of ballet, working with collaborators from across the artistic world, and in this critically acclaimed work, he combines themes from three of Woolf's landmark novels - MRS DALLOWAY, ORLANDO and THE WAVES - with elements of her letters, essays and diaries. Acclaimed British composer Max Richter created a specially commissioned score incorporating electronic and live music for this production.

On 11 June, The Globe's production of MEASURE FOR MEASURE will be screened. Vincentio, the Duke of Vienna, is disgusted by the immorality in his city and announces his withdrawal from public life, leaving his deputy, the puritanical Angelo, in charge. Angelo, in his zeal for observing the letter of the law, begins a ruthless programme to stamp out sexual licentiousness, in the course of which he condemns one Claudio to death. When Claudio's sister, Isabella, a novice nun, seeks mercy for her brother, she awakens the lust of the cold and censorious Angelo, who proposes that he will release Claudio should Isabella yield her virginity to him. Injustice, hypocrisy and the challenge of inflexible virtue combine in MEASURE FOR MEASURE, William Shakespeare's most searching exploration of sexual politics and social justice.

George Bernard Shaw's SAINT JOAN will be screened on 18 June as part of the National Theatre Live programme. In the torment of the Hundred Years' War, the charismatic Joan of Arc carved a victory that defined France. Shaw's classic play depicts this daughter, farm girl, visionary, patriot, king-whisperer, soldier, leader, victor, icon, radical, witch, heretic, saint, martyr and woman with all the instinct, zeal and transformative power of a revolutionary. Josie Rourke directs Gemma Arterton in this electrifying masterpiece.

Finally, on 25 June, The Royal Ballet's THE DREAM, SYMPHONIC VARIATIONS and MARGUERITE AND ARMAND demonstrate the great creative vision of Frederick Ashton, the founding choreographer of the company. THE DREAM is Ashton's adaptation of Shakespeare's riotous A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, in which a forest sprite causes havoc with a love potion. SYMPHONIC VARIATIONS was Ashton's first work after World War II, one of the company's first to be performed on the huge main stage of the Royal Opera House in 1946. With six dancers performing a series of quartets, duets, sextets and solos to César Franck's brooding "Variations Symphoniques", this seminal masterpiece celebrates the pure beauty of movement. MARGUERITE AND ARMAND is Ashton's beautiful and emotional retelling of a well-known story, familiar to us through Giuseppe Verdi's opera, LA TRAVIATA. Ashton famously created this poignant ballet on Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev in 1963.

Screenings take place at The Fugard Bioscope on Sundays at 11:00. Tickets cost R100 and can be booked online through Computicket, by phone on 0861 915 8000, or in person at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. Bookings can also be made at the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554. The Fugard foyer bar is open from 10:00, serving a range of delicious light snacks as well as the finest coffee, wine and drinks.

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