Benedict Cumberbatch will perform alongside a host of stars in a
celebration of the life of William Shakespeare, on the 400th
anniversary of his death. Recorded live on April 23 2016 at the
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, home of the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon,
the event will be screened live in the UK on BBC Two and in
selected cinemas, and recorded for cinema presentation in selected
theaters in the United States a month later on May 23 2016.
In the UK, 'Shakespeare Live!' will be hosted by David Tennant
and Catherine Tate, and as well as Benedict the event will feature
Helen Mirren, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Joseph Fiennes,
John Lithgow, David Suchet, Rufus Wainwright, Tim Minchin, Al
Murray, Meera Syal, Alison Moyet, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Paapa Essiedu,
Pippa Nixon, Alexandra Gilbreath, the Royal Ballet and the
Orchestra of the Swan, and many more.
Details for UK cinemas and ticket booking can be found on the Picture House Cinemas website.
In the USA, the show will be retitled 'The Shakespeare Show:
Recorded Live from the Royal Shakespeare Company'. Tickets can be
purchased online beginning today - Friday, April 15, 2016 - by
visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating
theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy
the event in nearly 400 movie theaters through Fathom's Digital
Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit
the Fathom Events website (theaters and
participants are subject to change).
In Canada, 'The Shakespeare Show' will be screened at Cineplex
cinemas on May 26, with an encore performance on June 5. Tickets are on sale now on the CIneplex
website.
As well as this exciting live event, Benedict is of course also
starring as Richard III in the new series of The Hollow Crown,
beginning on BBC Two in the UK on May 7 2016, and PBS at a date to
be announced (but soon!) Benedict appears in all three parts of the
drama series, which encompasses Henry VI Parts 1 & 2 and
Richard III. Andrew Scott also appears in the second part of Henry
VI as King Louis XI of France. Look out for our review of The
Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses ahead of broadcast soon.