Tickets to the Royal National Theatre in London can run upward of $85. But in Moscow, the production of “Twelfth Night,” performed at the National Theatre, can be watched live for $12 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre.
The Kenworthy is one of over 2,000 venues across the globe where the London production can be viewed.
“National Theatre Live is a program that brings live theater from London to theaters across the world,” said Jamie Hill, operations director at the Kenworthy.
The productions are part of National CineMedia’s Fathom Events, the same group that produces “The Met: Live in HD,” which also airs at the local theatre.
Broadcast live over satellite, the National Theatre Live (NT Live) productions are filmed with cameras “carefully positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure cinema audiences get the ‘best seat in the house’ view of each production,” according to the NT Live website.
Hill said she believes the NT Live series is a great opportunity for “anybody who loves theater.”
“Shakespeare tends to bring in more students because it ties in with their classes,” Hill said.
Hill said the Kenworthy is able to choose which National Theatre productions it shows each year, and they try to follow the school year to encourage student participation.
However, several of the Kenworthy’s patrons come to enjoy the entire National Theatre series, rather than just for the Shakespearean classics.
The showings typically occur about once per month, and “Twelfth Night” will be the third NT Live event at the Kenworthy since the start of the fall semester.
November’s showing, “Obsession,” will star Jude Law and December’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe?” features Imelda Staunton, best known for her role as Professor Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter series.
Hill said she would encourage everyone to give a NT Live showing a try, “even if you don’t like live theater.”
“Coming to live theater expands your world-view,” Hill said.
The showings take place once a month at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, and tickets are available for $12 through the Kenworthy box office or online at kenworthy.org.f
Beth Hoots can be reached at [email protected]