The world this year is marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death on April 23, 1616. The works of the Bard of Stratford upon Avon have more than stood the test of time and proven immensely popular with audiences and readers around the globe.
However, while Shakespeare has inspired legions of actors, directors, choreographers and composers down through the years, including many in Taiwan such as the Contemporary Legend Theatre (當代傳奇劇場) and the Taiwan Bangzi Opera Company (台灣豫劇團), it is rare to see English-language versions of one of his plays, although the Globe Theater’s October 2014 visit to Taipei with A Midsummer Night’s Dream was one such foray.
Thanks to Britain’s National Theatre and Vieshow Cinemas, that scarcity is being remedied, giving local audiences a chance to see some of the finest British acting in critically acclaimed London stage productions.
Photo: Johan Persson
The four films Vieshow has on offer through the end of next month are Donmar Warehouse’s 2014 production of Coriolanus staring Tom Hiddleston (of War Horse, The Avengers and Thor fame); the National Theatre’s 2014 King Lear, directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes and starring Simon Russell Beale; Othello, a 2013 National Theatre production starring Olivier Award-winning actors Adrian Lester in the title role and Rory Kinnear as Iago; and the Barbican’s production last year of Hamlet, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, known to TV audiences for his portrayal of another famed character of English literature, Sherlock Holmes.
Each film is being shown at least twice at Vieshows theaters in Taipei (Xinyi), with less frequent timetables for outlets in Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hsinchu and Tainan.
■ The Xinyi multiplex has Coriolanus scheduled for 2:30pm tomorrow, 7:10pm on Wednesday, 5:30pm on June 5 and 7:10pm on June 8; King Lear at 2:30pm on May 14, 7pm on May 18, June 1 and June 22; Othello at 4:45pm on May 22 and June 25; and Hamlet at 8:30pm on May 25, 2:30pm on May 28 and June 18 and 7pm on June 29.
■ For more details, check Vieshow’s Web site (www.vscinemas.com.tw/index.aspx?pg=film) and click on the poster for each film, while for more on National Theatre Live and the individual productions, visit its Web site (ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk).
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