Town Hall Theater to Broadcast Kenneth Branagh-Led MACBETH, 10/31

Kenneth Branagh made his reputation in Shakespeare's greatest roles, but it's been 10 years since he last appeared in a Shakespeare production. He has returned in a big way as director and star of Macbeth, in a production the British press has called "superbly realised, thrilling and chilling."

National Theatre Live will broadcast the Manchester International Festival's production, which had a sold-out run last summer. It will be screened at Middlebury's Town Hall Theatre on Thursday, October 31.

Branagh and co-director Rob Ashford have chosen to stage the play within the walls of an actual deconsecrated Manchester church, with audience members on both sides of the action. With brilliantly staged fight scenes and beautifully spoken text, the Daily Telegraph calls it "AMacbeth which will go down as one of the Scottish Play's great revivals."

Macbeth will be shown on the big screen at Town Hall Theater on Thursday, October 31, at 7 pm. Tickets are $17/$10 for students, and may be purchased at 382-9222, www.townhalltheater.org, at the THT Box office (daily except Sunday, noon-5 pm) and at the door.

Photo by Johan Persson