Burnham-On-Sea’s Princess Theatre is set to begin showing big-screen theatre performances for the first time following the installation of a new movie screen earlier this year after a huge funding boost.
The Princess secured ‘lifeline funding’ from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund to keep it running after a year’s closure due to the pandemic, which has also enabled it to install new film facilities. It received £66,702 last October and £27,356 in April.
Beccy Armory, the theatre’s programming lead, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are so pleased to be able to present National Theatre productions to our audiences. The work that comes out of the National is world class and now we can show this work to our community via the wonders of technology.”
“When we started plans to bring film to The Princess, we reached out to The Ritz to discuss how we could work alongside and complement each other.”
“We all agreed that culture is good for Burnham and Highbridge and that our work as programmers is to develop audiences across the area and promote cohesion.”
National Theatre Live aims to bring the best of British theatre to cinema screens across the UK and around the world. With modern filming techniques, tailored to every play, the National Theatre brings audiences each performance as it happens in all its glory.
The Princess Theatre will start their performance season with Romeo & Juliet on Tuesday 5th October at 7pm.
The critically-acclaimed new film brings to life the backstage spaces of the National Theatre to make Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy sing in an entirely new way. Jessie Buckley (Wild Rose, Judy) and Josh O’Connor (The Crown, God’s Own Country) play Juliet and Romeo. The award-winning cast includes Tamsin Greig, Fisayo Akinade, Adrian Lester, Lucian Msamati and Deborah Findlay.
On Friday 29th October at 7pm the theatre will also be screening ‘Follies’, starring Imelda Staunton, Tracie Bennett and Janie Dee. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, Stephen Sondheim’s legendary musical was directed by Dominic Cooke and filmed live on stage at the National Theatre.
For more information, click here or contact The Princess’ box office in person or via 01278 784464. Tickets are priced at £16 and £14 for members for each screening.
