To see or not to see... there is no question

The Artillery Street Theatre will screen a live performance of Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch’s highly anticipated role as Hamlet at The Barbican, London as part of a full season of National Theatre treats.

The Playhouse is one of a handful of venues screening ‘National Theatre Live’, a ground-breaking initiative to broadcast productions from the London stage to theatre and cinema screens worldwide.

To introduce The Playhouse’s first ever screening of live theatre from The National Theatre on Thursday September 3, The Playhouse has announced George Farquhar’s most famous piece, ‘The Beaux Strategem’, which was first performed at Londonderry’s Talbot Theatre, not far from where The Playhouse now stands.

Thursday, September 24, will then see a special screening of the Donmar Warehouse’s 2013 production of ‘Coriolanus’, featuring an Evening Standard Award-winning performance from Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, War Horse (film), BBC’s The Hollow Crown) in the title role.

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch will then take on the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy Hamlet, screened live to The Playhouse on Thursday October 15.

The so called ‘Cumbermania’ around the star’s highly discussed role meant the two-week run at the Barbican Theatre sold out within minutes almost a year before the curtain rose.

This highly anticipated screening at The Playhouse will be followed by more big names as hit Broadway production ‘Of Mice and Men’, filmed on stage in New York by National Theatre Live, comes to UK theatres and cinemas in November. Golden Globe® winner and Academy Award® nominee James Franco (127 Hours, Milk) and Tony Award® nominee Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Girls) star in the screening of this ‘riveting, powerful production’ (Independent) at The Playhouse on Friday November 20.

Charlotte Brontë’s story of the trailblazing Jane Eyre, first staged by Bristol Old Vic last year, will be then brought to the National by Director Sally Cookson. Inspiring as ever, the live screening of ‘Jane Eyre’ will be held at The Playhouse on Tuesday December 8.

And last but certainly not least, next year Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change As You Like It will come to the National Theatre for the first time in over 30 years, with Rosalie Craig (London Road, Macbeth at MIF) as Rosalind. The Playhouse will be screening the performance live on Thursday 25 February 2016.

“We’re just so delighted to be working with National Theatre Live broadcasting the best of British theatre live to local audiences!” Max Beer, Head of Development at The Playhouse said.

“Using the latest digital broadcast technology we are able to offer local audiences cutting edge performances and drama on their doorsteps!”

To book your National Theatre Live tickets contact The Playhouse Box Office on (028)71268027 or book online at www.derryplayhouse.co.uk