The National Theatre Live Recording Of FOLLIES Will Be Screened This Weekend At National Theatre's River Stage Festival

A screening of the National Theatre Live recording of the National Theatre's production of classic Stephen Sondheim musical Follies will be taking place this weekend at River Stage festival. Set in 1971, New York, the production follows the reunion of a group of showgirls at the theatre where they used to perform which is about to be demolished.

Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves. Including such classic songs as Broadway Baby, I'm Still Here and Losing My Mind, Stephen Sondheim's legendary musical was staged for the first time at the National Theatre last year.

The cast of 37 includes Olivier Award winning actresses Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter, Who's Afraid Virginia Woolf, Sweeney Todd) Tracie Bennett (Hairspray, High Society), Janie Dee (Carousel, Hello Dolly) and triple Olivier award winning actor Philip Quast (Les Miserables, South Pacific) and Peter Forbes (Singin in the Rain, The James Plays) who are joined by an orchestra of 21. The production is directed by Dominic Cooke (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom).

The National Theatre is programming the final festival weekend from Friday 10th August with a mix of family focused workshops, sing along bands, a groundbreaking new circus show, a tea dance and live music and DJ's. Hertz is the Official Transport Provider to the National Theatre, and will be supporting the weekend with a series of fun activities and prize giveaways. River Stage is now in its fourth year of bringing free entertainment to audiences outside the National Theatre. With the NT's mission to be as 'open, diverse, as collaborative and as national as possible', the festival showcases the best artists from across the UK, presenting an eclectic and exciting mix of dance, theatre and music.

Last year the festival saw over 40,000 people attend making it London's biggest free outdoor arts festival. Delta is the Official Airline Partner for River Stage. Since launching in 2009, National Theatre Live broadcasts have been seen by an audience of over 8 million people at 2500 venues in 65 countries. The first season began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phédre starring Oscar winner Helen Mirren. Recent broadcasts include Angels in America with Andrew Garfield and Russell Tovey, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill, Rosentcrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with Daniel Radcliffe, Hedda Gablerwith Ruth Wilson and Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart in No Man's Land, Sky Arts is the UK sponsor for National Theatre Live.

This screening of Follies begins at 7pm on Sunday 12th August. For more information on River Stage go to https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/river-stage-2018 Follies returns to the National Theatre on 14th February 2019.

For more information go to https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/follies