Shakespeare screened at the Merlin Theatre

With the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death this year, classic theatre companies are planning new productions which in many cases will be available as live screenings at the Merlin Theatre here in Frome.

Celebrations start on April 23rd with a two-hour star-studded celebration of Shakespeare’s plays and their enduring influence on music, dance, opera, musical theatre and comedy, which will be hosted by David Tennant and screened live from Stratford-upon-Avon.

RSC artistic director, Gregory Doran, is assembling a once-in-a-lifetime cast, including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Joseph Fiennes, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Al Murray, Alison Moyet, Noma Dumezweni, Ian Bostridge, Rufus Wainwright, Tim Minchin, Paapa Essiedu, Pippa Nixon, Alexandra Gilbreath, Akala (Hip Hop Shakespeare), The Royal Ballet, English National Opera (ENO), The Orchestra of the Swan, and Birmingham Royal Ballet, to perform in a unique tribute to the genius and influence of the world’s greatest playwright and storyteller.

Later this year, RSC productions of Hamlet (June 10th), Cymbeline (28th September) and King Lear (starring Antony Sher,14th October) will all be shown at the Merlin, plus a Branagh Theatre Live production of Romeo and Juliet. Contemporary drama also features with an NTLive encore screening of Arthur Miller’s ‘A View from the Bridge’, starring Mark Strong, (May 12th) and another chance to see Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth ll in Peter Morgan’s multi-award-winning ‘The Audience (June  9th).

All shows are currently available for booking. Seats for live screenings cost £16, with concessions £10.50, from www.merlintheatre.co.uk or 465949.