Empire Cinemas bring big stage productions to the big screen this February and March
· Royal Opera House – La Traviata (LIVE)
· National Theatre Live – As You Like It (LIVE)
· Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors Live Concert
· MET Opera – Manon Lescaut
14th January 2016… From theatre to opera, ballet and music, this February and March cinemagoers can experience live stage productions and events from the comfort of their local cinema courtesy of the Empire Extra programme from Empire Cinemas. Customers can relish the big screen experience in stunning high definition and witness arts screenings of the highest calibre. In February, the month of love, Empire Cinemas will screen Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change, As You Like It from National Theatre Live, as well as Verdi’s tragic opera of a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices all for love; La Traviatafrom The Royal Opera House.
The March line-up sees stunning live operas, theatre and concerts brought to the big screen; enjoy a screening of world-renown band Imagine Dragon’s worldwide tour ‘Smoke + Mirrors’. As well as a brand new production of Musorgsky’s historical masterpiece, Boris Godunov, from the Royal Opera House.
February and March’s full listings are as follows:
February
Royal Opera House – La Traviata (LIVE)
Released 4th February 2016
Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1SV02Tl
Regarded as one of Verdi’s finest operas, La Traviata is one of The Royal Opera’s most popular productions. The opera tells the story of the Parisian courtesan Violetta Valéry, one of opera’s greatest heroines. In this revival, Violetta is sung by Russian soprano Venera Gimadieva in her debut with The Royal Opera, following her successful appearance as Violetta at the Glyndebourne Festival.
National Theatre Live – As You Like It (LIVE)
Released 25th February 2016
Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1NL2Ezu
Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change comes to the National Theatre for the first time in over 30 years, with Rosalie Craig (London Road, Macbeth at MIF) as Rosalind. With her father in exile, Rosalind and cousin Celia leave court life behind them and journey into the Forest of Arden. Released from convention, Rosalind transforms and finally experiences life and love- as a man.
March
Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors Live Concert
Released 2nd March 2016
Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1N74TMl
For the first time ever, one of the world’s hottest bands, Imagine Dragons, are coming to cinemas worldwide for one night only, with their concert Smoke + Mirrors Live. Filmed as part of their current tour, Smoke + Mirrors Live features hits such as Demons, It’s Time and the Grammy Award-winning Radioactive from their platinum-selling debut album Night Visions. The Smoke + Mirrors album charted at #1 around the world earlier this year, including the US Billboard and UK Official Album Charts and features recent hits such as I Bet My Life, Gold and Shots, all performed as part of the concert film.
NT Live: Hangman
Released 3rd March 2016
Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1Si0VIN
Following a sell-out run at London’s Royal Court Theatre, Olivier and Academy Award® winner Martin McDonagh (The Pillowman, The Cripple of Inishmaan, In Bruges) returns to the West End with Matthew Dunster’s award-winning production of his deeply funny new play Hangmen, broadcast live to cinemas by National Theatre Live.
MET Opera – Manon Lescaut
Released 5th March 2016
Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1SV5PbI
The Met stage ignites when soprano Kristine Opolais and tenor Jonas Kaufmann join forces in Puccini’s obsessive love story. Directed by Director Richard Eyre; Opolais sings the title role of the country girl who transforms herself into a Parisian temptress, while Kaufmann is the dashing student who desperately woos her. Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi leads the stirring score.
ROH – Boris Godunov (LIVE)
Released 21st March 2016
Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1ldCw96
Richard Jones and Antonio Pappano renew their creative collaboration with this new production of Musorgsky’s historical masterpiece, here seen in its compact 1869 first version. Keenly awaited will be Bryn Terfel’s assumption of the title role – one of the most complex characters in opera – while John Graham-Hall appears as the crafty Prince Shuisky and John Tomlinson as the vagabond monk Varlaam.
The Railway Children (Filmed Theatre Event)
Released 28th March 2016
Ticket link: http://bit.ly/1Pb4k5M
E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children follows the story of Roberta (Bobbie), Phyllis and Peter, three
sheltered siblings who suffer a huge upheaval when their father, who works for the Foreign Office, is taken away from their London home and falsely imprisoned. The children and their mother, now
penniless, are forced to move from London to rural Yorkshire near a railway line. The story deals with themes of justice, the importance of family and the kindness of strangers.
Jon Nutton, Marketing Director of Empire Cinemas, said: “Empire Extra provides arts fans with the experience of attending live stage productions from the comfort of their local cinema, and at a fraction of the price. 2015 saw a brilliant reception of our Empire Extra programme and we are looking forward to another superb year of big stage productions on the big screen.”