WORLD ARTS ON SCREEN
A special kind of big-screen entertainment starts at The Fugard Theatre Bioscope this month. DEBBIE HATHWAY previews
MOVIE buffs practically whisper about The Fugard Theatre’s cinematic season, managing to convey in equal parts awe for the work presented on the big screen and pride at being quick enough off the mark to secure a coveted ticket or two.
Typically laid-back Capetonians will miss out if they don’t book early for their opera, theatre, ballet or music picks during The Fugard Theatre Bioscope World Arts Cinema Season, which opens on September 27.
Greg Karvellas, general manager and associate producer for The Fugard Theatre, says their content partners are great at making sure they know what is available to them and what is coming down the line. “We look ahead and see what productions are being presented by the various theatres and companies (the National Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Ballet and Royal Opera) as well as referring back to prior seasons to see which titles audiences enjoyed the most,” he says.
“Encore screenings happen every season as a result of us listening to what our audiences want to see and attempting to secure an encore through the content holders. This season the encore screening will be the National Theatre’s Othello on February 21, 2016.”
And it just gets better. On October 11, also in response to public demand, there will be one more opportunity to see Ida, the Polish film that won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film 2014, followed by Kolya, the Czechlanguage winner of the same accolade in 1996.
Ida was produced by Eric Abraham, the owner and founding producer of The Fugard Theatre, and The Fugard Theatre Bioscope is the only cinema venue in South Africa licensed to screen it. Kolya was Abraham’s first Academy award-winning film and will be screened at 1pm, immediately after Ida.
Opening The Fugard Theatre Bioscope’s 2015/16 World Arts Cinema fifth consecutive season, however, is Fabergé: A Life of its Own on September 27 at 11am. This screening, in partnership with Arts Alliance Media, “reveals the fascinating story of one of the most prestigious names in luxury and will give audiences unprecedented access to the fascinating world of the Fabergé egg”.
Ticketholders can expect some mind-blowing cinematic experiences transported from some of the world’s most renowned stages, and presented in full digital highdefinition and surround-sound in the very special atmosphere provided by The Fugard Theatre in historic District Six.
“Planning for the season begins roughly six months before the end of a current season and as titles become available in the digital cinema format,” says Karvellas. “While the bulk of the scheduling happens during this time, there is also space left open for new and exciting titles that become available as the year goes on.”
Together with the other Fugard Theatre Bioscope partners – The Royal Opera House, The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and Great Britain’s National Theatre – the curators endeavour to offer popular titles across all genres.
“The bulk of our season usually consists of theatre, ballet and opera, but we are always on the lookout for fresh titles within the independent cinema, documentary and live music genres,” adds Karvellas.
Notable inclusions for the upcoming season are Man and Superman with Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes on October 18, Hamlet, starring Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch on January 10, and The Bolshoi Ballet’sThe Nutcracker in dedication to Tchaikovsky during his 175th anniversary year, on December 20.
There will also be three films for music fans, exclusive to The Fugard Theatre: Eric Clapton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (November 8), The Who: Live in Hyde Park (November 22), and Arcade Fire’s first feature film, The Reflektor Tapes (October 25).
The Royal Ballet’s performance of Frankenstein closes the season on July 3 next year.
Early bookings are essential. For information on the 24 screenings: www.thefugard.com. These take place at 11am on Sundays, unless otherwise stated. Tickets: R100. Book: www.computicket.com or the Theatre’s box office on 021 461 4554. Discounts are available to Friends of the Fugard and pensioners.