Captivating Line Up Announced For 2018 Fugard Bioscope Season

Now in its seventh successful year, the Fugard Bioscope has compiled a captivating line up for the 2018 season, starting on 4 February with the Academy Award winning IDA produced by Fugard Theatre founder Eric Abraham.

The Bioscope presents screenings of the world's best recorded live theatre, opera and ballet productions to be enjoyed from the comfort of a Fugard Theatre seat and on the Fugard's full size high definition cinema screen with a 7.1 dolby digital surround sound system.

Productions staged by companies such as the National Theatre, Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House, Bolshoi Ballet and Young Vic are filmed live, transporting you directly into the heart of the action on stage.

"We have put together an exciting programme that combines perennial classic dramas such as the National Theatre's productions of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and Tennessee Williams' twentieth century masterpiece Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, with newer plays such as Young Marx, a comedy from the same creative team behind One Man, Two Guvnors, directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Rory Kinnear," says Greg Karvellas, Resident Director and General Manager of the Fugard Theatre."There's also the 'shatteringly powerful' Yerma for which Billie Piper won 2017 Olivier Award for Best Actress and Yaël Farber's hypnotic, visually compelling interpretation of Salomé."

Ballet lovers are spoilt for choice with offerings from the Bolshoi Ballet including Romeo and Juliet, Giselle and The Flames of Paris as well as the Royal Ballet productions of A Winter's Tale, Manon and their Bernstein Centenary. Highlights for opera aficionados include Tosca and Rigoletto from the Royal Opera House. Stephen Sondheim fans will be delighted to hear the Bioscope will be screening the National Theatre's spectacular production of Follies,directed by Dominic Cooke.

Kicking off the season on 4 February is Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film IDA. Orphaned as an infant during the German occupation of World War ll, Ida must now meet her aunt. The former Communist state prosecutor and only surviving relative tells her that her parents were Jewish. The two women embark on a road trip into the Polish countryside to learn the fate of their family. "An immaculate, miraculous masterwork" (The London Telegraph).

The Royal Opera House production of Verdi's Rigoletto will be screened on 11 February. Directed by David McVicar, the production highlights the cruelty at the heart of this tragic opera. Featuring dark, Renaissance-inspired set and costume designs, the staging creates the shocking and insidious world within which this gripping tale unfolds. Conducted by Alexander Joel and featuring Dimitri Platanias in the title role.

The February programme continues on 18 February with the Bolshoi Ballet's Romeo and Juliet, staged by Alexei Ratmansky with a dramatic urgency and fresh re-telling of Shakespeare's beloved classic story of the star-crossed lovers.

Rounding off the month's line up on 25 February is Young Marx by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman. This brand new comedy comes from the same creative team behind One Man, Two Guvnors and stars Olivier Award winner Rory Kinnear directed by Nicholas Hytner.Based on true events from the time when Karl Marx lived in Soho, London, this historical comedy has been hailed "A seriously clever comedy. Riotous fun." (The Times).

The full line up for the first half of the 2018 Fugard Bioscope season is:

Sunday 4 February 2018 11am - Academy Award-winning IDA

Sunday 11 February 11am -The Royal Opera House's production of RIGOLETTO

Sunday 18 February 11am - The Bolshoi Ballet's ROMEO AND JULIET

Sunday 25 February 11am -National Theatre's production of YOUNG MARX

Sunday 4 March 11am -The Royal Opera House's production of TOSCA

Sunday 11 March 11am-The National Theatre's SALOMÉ

Sunday 8 April 11am - the Royal Ballet's production of A WINTER'S TALE

Sunday 15 April 11am -the Young Vic's production of YERMA

Sunday 22 April 11am - The Royal Ballet's BERNSTEIN CENTENARY

Sunday 29 April 11am -National Theatre's CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Sunday 6 May 11am - National Theatre's JULIUS CAESAR

Sunday 13 May 11am - The Bolshoi Ballet's production of GISELLE

Sunday 10 June 11am - Royal Ballet's production of MANON

Sunday 17 June 11am - The National Theatre's production of FOLLIES

Sunday 24 June 11am - The Bolshoi Ballet's production of THE FLAMES OF PARIS

Sunday 1 July 11am - The National Theatre's production of MACBETH

Tickets cost R100 and can be booked through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or 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 10am on Sundays, serving a range of delicious light snacks as well as the finest coffee, wine and drinks.

The Fugard Theatre is situated in the heart of District Six, on the corner of Harrington and Caledon Streets, Cape Town. Harrington Street car park is located at the corner of Caledon and Harrington streets and is available for the use of Fugard Bioscope patrons.

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

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