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To go or not to go? Shakespeare’s Globe on Screen 2013

Samantha Toh

Wed May 29 2013

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YOU won’t have to travel all the way to London in order to catch some of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, as Samantha Toh discovers. 

Returning for its third season in Australia, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre will be bringing three of its blockbuster plays to Australian cinemas this winter.

Lovers of “ye old world” will get to experience Henry V, The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night in high-definition and surround sound, much akin to a front row seat at the theatre.

Technological presentation aside, a stageplay would be nothing without its players and the casts have been lauded for bringing new depth and richness to the three plays.

Twelfth Night

A moving comedy of loss and misplaced love, Twelfth Night is the source of some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful songs and subtle poetry, accentuated by a star studded cast including singer-songwriter and actor Johnny Flynn and Roger Lloyd Pack, who portrayed Barty Crouch in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The always hilarious Stephen Fry’s portrayal of Malvolio has been described as “pure comic delight”, while Fry’s co-star Mark Rylance won over critics for his “dazzling” performance.

Audiences however may find women noticeably absent from the ensemble, which is a deliberate throwback to an era where women were, while allowed to watch, not permitted to perform.

Henry V

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Photo via Shakespeare’s Globe on Screen (http://onscreen.shakespearesglobe.com/#/henryv)

Considered to be one of Shakespeare’s most accomplished pieces, this rendition of Shakespeare’s classic, Henry V, is directed by the Globe’s artistic director Dominic Dromgoole.

A reflection on the turbulence of war and the arts of peace, it tells the romantic story of Henry’s campaign to recapture the English possessions in France.

The production has been an enduring favourite at the Globe Theatre, having enthralled its audiences with its riveting exploration of humanity, morality and leadership. In fact, it is through Henry V that some of the English language’s most famous and rousing speeches originate!

The Taming of the Shrew

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Photo via Shakespeare’s Globe on Screen (http://onscreen.shakespearesglobe.com/#/thetamingoftheshrew)

Last, but certainly not least is The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s most notorious comedy that provides a scandalous insight into the battle of the sexes.

The play revolves around one of theatre history’s most eccentric pairs, Katherina and Petruchio – a couple determined to display superiority over the other throughout the comedic piece.

With such an exciting showcase on display, to go or not to go is a question that need not be mulled over.

Shakespeare’s Globe on Theatre screenings will be held at various Palace Cinemas in Melbourne. Information about cinema listings and bookings can be found at the event page at Palace Cinema’s website. For further details about the event, head on over to Globe on Screen’s official website.

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