Bumper Summer Season Line Up For Fugard Bioscope

There's a bumper summer season line up at The Fugard Bioscope during December and January.

Presenting screenings of the world's best recorded live theatre, opera and ballet productions from companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Bolshoi Ballet and the Royal Ballet, the Fugard Bioscope experience transports you to the heart of the action on stage viewed on a full size high definition cinema screen.

Screenings start at the earlier time of 10am and The Fugard Theatre coffee shop and bar is open from 9am serving the finest coffee and a delicious selection of snacks and drinks.

The December / January line up is:

Sunday 2 December 10am - The Royal Shakespeare Company's ROMEO AND JULIET

Sunday 9 December 10am - the Royal Ballet's MAYERLING

Sunday 16 December 10am - Comédie-Française's CYRANO DE BERGERAC

(French with English subtitles)

Sunday 23 December 10am - the Royal Ballet's THE NUTCRACKER

Sunday 6 January 2019 10am - National Theatre Live presents THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III

Sunday 13 January 10am - National Theatre Live presents JULIE

Sunday 20 January 10am - the Bolshoi Ballet's LA SYLPHIDE

Sunday 27 January 10am - the Royal Shakespeare Company's THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

ROMEO AND JULIET is the most famous story of love at first sight and explodes with intense passion and an irresistible desire for change, but leads all too quickly to heartbreaking consequences. The Guardian UK described this Royal Shakespeare Company production as a 'swift, lively production' and Whatsonstage called it a 'Youthful and energetic take on Shakespeare's tragedy'.

Kenneth MacMillan's much-loved classic MAYERLING, presented by The Royal Ballet, is one of the most demanding roles ever created for a male dancer and 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. This ballet, bursting with intensity, madness and passion, proves that sometimes the truth is more scandalous than fiction.

Comédie-Française is one of France's most respected theatres and home to Molière's historic theatre troupe. The beloved classic heroic comedy CYRANO DE BERGERAC by Edmond Rostand sees Cyrano cursed with a prominent nose but gifted with words. He uses this talent to help handsome Christian win Roxane's heart, whom he also loves...Directed by Denis Podalydès with scenography by Éric Ruf and costumes by Christian Lacroix. Podalydès describes the play as "a dream of total theatre, a mixture of arts and genres: comic opera, tragedy, romantic drama, symbolist poetry and Molieresque farce". (In French with English subtitles)

The Royal Ballet's THE NUTCRACKER always 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.

Kicking off the January programme, National Theatre Live presents THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III. Written by one of Britain's best-loved playwrights Alan Bennett, the cast of this new production includes Olivier Award-winner Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Wolf Hall, NT Live Coriolanus) in the title role. It's 1786 and King George III is the most powerful man in the world. But his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic as he succumbs to fits of lunacy.

On 13 January, National Theatre Live presents JULIE, a new version of August Strindberg's play Miss Julie, written by Polly Stenham. Wild and newly single, Julie throws a late night party. In the kitchen, Jean and Kristina clean up as the celebration heaves above them. Crossing the threshold, Julie initiates a power game with Jean - which rapidly descends into a savage fight for survival. BAFTA Award-winning actress Vanessa Kirby (The Crown) and Eric Kofi Abrefa (The Amen Corner) feature in the cast, directed by Carrie Cracknell (NT Live: The Deep Blue Sea).

The Bolshoi Ballet's LA SYLPHIDE will be shown on 20 January. 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.

Wrapping up the month, catch the Royal Shakespeare Company's THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR on 27 January. Down on his luck in the suburbs, John Falstaff plans to hustle his way to a comfortable retirement by seducing the wives of two wealthy men. Unknown to him, it's the women of Windsor who really pull the strings, orchestrating Falstaff's comeuppance amidst a theatrical smorgasbord of petty rivalries, jealousies and over-inflated egos.

Screenings take place at the Fugard Theatre on Sundays at 10am.Tickets cost R100 and can be booked directly through the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or online at www.thefugard.com There is a 20% discount for Friends of the Fugard and a 15% discount for pensioners. These discounted tickets are available through the box office.

For further information about the 2018 Fugard Bioscope season visit www.thefugard.com

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