BWW Previews: Kentucky Shakespeare Brings RSC and Stratford to Screen with 'Shakespeare on Film' Series

Fresh off a season of company-wide renewal and world-class theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare is bringing even more world-class productions to Louisville theaters.

One slight difference: the theaters will be of the motion picture variety.

Kentucky Shakespeare will partner with the Royal Shakespeare Company to present showings of RSC's productions of "Love's Labour's Lost" and "Love's Labour's Won (Much Ado About Nothing)" at Baxter Avenue Theatres. The RSC productions will be joined by screenings of the Stratford Festival's "King Lear," "King John" and "Antony and Cleopatra" as the "Shakespeare on Stage" Film Series.

Matt Wallace, Kentucky Shakespeare's artistic director, conceived of the idea to screen productions from world-renowned Shakespeare companies after a recent trip to see them in person. Wallace was named an Alden Fellow with the Community Foundation of Louisville and was awarded a grant for a self-directed fellowship in which he visited Shakespeare in the Park in New York and spent 10 days in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. He studied with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, saw productions at the RSC and the Globe Theatre.

While at the RSC, he saw "Love's Labour's Lost" and "Love's Labour's Won (Much Ado About Nothing)," and learned that the company was filming the plays for broadcast.

When he returned to the States, Wallace reached out to the Picturehouse distribution company in the UK and facilitated a relationship with Louisville's Baxter Avenue Theatre, which regularly shows independent, arthouse and special features, as well as the Stratford Festival in Canada to put together the film series.

"These are all recent productions from their current seasons and a rare opportunity for us to experience them here in Louisville," Wallace said.

The Film Series begins with Stratford Fest's "King Lear" on Feb. 25, followed by "Love's Labour's Lost" on March 16 and 21, "King John" on April 9, Love's Labour's Won (Much Ado About Nothing)" on April 23 and "Antony and Cleopatra" May 21.

As with the "Live from the Met" opera series, because it is a special engagement, the cost is a little higher. Tickets are $20 for each film. However, bringing Kentucky Shakespeare's flyer to the theatre will get a $5 discount and includes a complimentary bottle of water.

"I'm hoping to get as many people as we can to these productions so that we can continue this partnership and bring more films of Shakespeare stage productions to Louisville," Wallace said.