The Fugard Bioscope Announces Winter Line Up

The Bioscope presents screenings of the world's best recorded live theatre, opera and ballet productions to be enjoyed from the comfort of a Fugard Theatre seat and on the Fugard's full size high definition cinema screen with a 7.1 dolby digital surround sound system.

Productions staged by companies such as the National Theatre, Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House, Bolshoi Ballet and Young Vic are filmed live, transporting you directly into the heart of the action on stage.

The May, June and July line up at the Fugard Bioscope is:

Sunday 6 May 11am - National Theatre's JULIUS CAESAR

Sunday 13 May 11am - The Bolshoi Ballet's production of GISELLE

Sunday 10 June 11am - Royal Ballet's production of MANON

Sunday 17 June 11am - The National Theatre's production of FOLLIES

Sunday 24 June 11am - The Bolshoi Ballet's production of THE FLAMES OF PARIS

Sunday 1 July 11am - The National Theatre's production of MACBETH

Nicholas Hytner`s production of JULIUS CAESAR will thrust the audience into the street party that greets Caesar`s return, the congress that witnesses his murder, the rally that assembles for his funeral and the chaos that explodes in its wake. Filmed at The Bridge Theatre, London, and featuring a stellar cast including Ben Whishaw (The Danish Girl, Skyfall, Hamlet) and Michelle Fairley (Fortitude, Game of Thrones) as Brutus and Cassius, David Calder (The Lost City of Z, The Hatton Garden Job) as Caesar and David Morrissey (The Missing, Hangmen, The Walking Dead) as Mark Antony.

Prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova personifies the ultimate ballerina role in the classical repertoire, in The Bolshoi Ballet's production of GISELLE alongside the sensational Sergei Polunin as Albrecht, in this chilling, yet luminous ballet that continues to captivate audiences for over 150 years at the Bolshoi. When Giselle learns that her beloved Albrecht is promised to another woman, she dies of a broken heart in his arms. While Albrecht grieves, she returns from the dead as a Wili, a vengeful spirit meant to make unfaithful men dance until death...

In the Royal Ballet's production of MANON, Manon`s brother Lescaut is offering her to the highest bidder when she meets Des Grieux and falls in love. They elope to Paris, but when Monsieur G.M. offers Manon a life of luxury as his mistress she can`t resist. With the Lescauts` encouragement Des Grieux cheats at cards in an attempt to win Monsieur G.M.`s fortune. They are caught. Manon is arrested as a prostitute and deported to New Orleans, followed by Des Grieux. On the run, Manon dies from exhaustion.

Staged for the first time at the National Theatre, Stephen Sondheim`s legendary musical FOLLIES is screened on 17 June. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, it`s directed by Dominic Cooke (The Comedy of Errors). New York, 1971. There`s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will 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. Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies in this dazzling new production.

Very few ballets can properly depict the Bolshoi`s overflowing energy and fiery passion as can Alexei Ratmansky`s captivating revival of Vasily Vainonen`s THE FLAMES OF PARIS. With powerful virtuosity and some of the most stunning pas de deux, the Bolshoi Ballet displays an exuberance almost too enormous for the Moscow stage. In the era of the French Revolution, Jeanne and her brother Jerome leave Marseille for Paris in support of the revolutionary effort that is taking over the capital. While fighting for freedom, they both encounter love along the way.

Bringing the first half of the Fugard Bioscope 2018 season to a close, is the National Theatre's production of MACBETH. Shakespeare`s most intense and terrifying tragedy, directed by Rufus Norris (The Threepenny Opera, London Road), sees Rory Kinnear (Young Marx, Othello) and Anne-Marie Duff (Oil, Suffragette) return to the National Theatre to play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The ruined aftermath of a bloody civil war. Ruthlessly fighting to survive, the Macbeths are propelled towards the crown by forces of elemental darkness.

Tickets cost R100 and can be booked through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. Bookings can also be made at the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554.

The Fugard foyer bar is open from 10am on Sundays, serving a range of delicious light snacks as well as the finest coffee, wine and drinks.

The Fugard Theatre is situated in the heart of District Six, on the corner of Harrington and Caledon Streets, Cape Town. Harrington Street car park is located at the corner of Caledon and Harrington streets and is available for the use of Fugard Bioscope patrons for a small parking fee.

For further information about the 2018 Fugard Bioscope season visit www.thefugard.com