About once a month, Reflexen, the local cinema where I am a volunteer, screens live opera direct from the Met in New York. I’ve not been to one of these screenings yet, but they are very popular. Next up is Porgy and Bess, which is very tempting.
Yesterday evening, I joined Mr and Mrs DuCool at the Bio Rio to see the National Theatre production of Fleabag, Phoebe Waller- Bridge’s one-woman which she very brilliantly transformed into the TV series of the same name.
It is the second time I’ve seen “live” theatre at the cinema, the first being One man, Two Guvnors starring James Corden. I was a bit dubious about whether it would work. Both turned out to be thoroughly enjoyable evenings. Yesterday’s performance was not transmitted live but was a recording. To my surprise, it made no difference.
Thanks to modern cinema technology, people from Kiruna to Katmandu, can now enjoy the latest productions from the stages of London, Paris, New York and Grimsby. What’s not to like?
Has anybody else seen theatre or opera at their local cinema?.
I was telling my local greengrocer geezer about it this morning and he was not convinced that it could come anywhere near the experience of being in a theatre. I was a doubter too, but now I’m a believer.
Kaisfatdad says
Vulpes Vulpes says
The National Theatre thing they call “LIVE”, which is, as you say, actually recorded, is utterly brilliant.
Being recorded makes little difference to the quality of the experience; in fact its almost an improvement in that, for us anyway, the cinema is nearly always sparsely populated, the seats are comfy, and compared to the ‘proper’ thing it’s cheap as chips. Win-win-win.
I most recently saw a production of Julius Caesar with Ben Wishaw and David Morrisey amongst others; it was a superb evening’s entertainment. We’ll be going again, and if Fleabag passes this way it’ll definitely be on our hit-list.
Alias says
A few years ago the Barbican Centre had a series of silent movies accompanied by a live piano player. My wife was a big fan.
retropath2 says
Again, whilst this is the cinema in a theatre, rather than vice versa, Symphony Hall in Brum do a yearly silent film: Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, with good quality and hand scrubbed film, with live backing from CBSO. Bloody good they are too, bringing life back to the old clips dismissed as being just that, old clips. Carl Davis seems usually to conduct, him that married the actress from Bread.
Kaisfatdad says
Jean Boht. The poor woman! After all these years, she is still the actress from Bread. I think that description is a little stale by now!
https://www.surreylife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/carl-davis-on-composing-music-from-reigate-to-cranford-1-1644452
Those Brum silent movie gigs sound wonderful. The epitome of Event Cinema. Looks like a cracking venue.
Gary says
I’ve seen three of those theatre to cinema thingies, all excellent. The first was Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Danny Boyle’s 2011 production of Frankenstein. Apparently in the stage version they alternated roles between Victor F and the Monster. In the versh that was shown at the cinema, Cumberbatch was the monster.
The second, in 2013, featured Helen Mirren in The Audience, which dealt with the Queen’s weekly meetings with various Prime Ministers. Its portrayal of her relationship with Harold Wilson was quite different to that portrayed in The Crown – they got on like a house on fire.
The third was Ralph Fiennes in Richard III filmed at the Almeida Theatre, London in 2016. It started and ended with Richard’s skeleton being dug up in a Leicester car park. Nice touch. Fiennes was absolutely stupendous. I was in awe not only of his superb acting but of how the feck he (or any other actor, come to that) memorises a whole play. I don’t think I could even memorise the few lines given to the kids playing the young princes. Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret was impressive too.
Kaisfatdad says
I am guessing that you saw these in the UK, Gary. Although I don’t doubt that the culture vultures of Monopoli also have the chance to enjoy live performances at the local “cinema di quart’ordine”
The dictionary also gave me “posto sgangherato” – a wonderful turn of phrase
Gary says
No, it was here in Italy at a cinema in Bari. Shown in English.
Kaisfatdad says
Pleased to hear that there are so many Anglosphiles and Anglophones in Bari.
I see Greta Gerwig’s Piccole donne is also opening in your neck of the woods. Something to look forward to.
https://www.ucicinemas.it/film/in-inglese/
Black Type says
I think the relationship between Brenda and Harold in The Crown was pretty well portrayed, actually; from initial mutual suspicion, to a growing respect, and ultimately a sincere affection marked by Her Maj’s dinner invitation to Harold and Mary after his resignation.
Gary says
I am agree.
In The Audience (also written by Peter Morgan) Wilson was less intimidated than his The Crown counterpart and their relationship was more friendly right from the start, IIRC. She took an immediate shine to his down-to-earth approach.
Kaisfatdad says
It is a win win situation for the Met
https://www.metopera.org/season/in-cinemas/
and the NT
http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/about-us
They get income from the screenings and people who have seen their productions on the screen will doubtless want to visit the actual venue.
I completely agree with Ms Alias. A silent movie with live piano accompaniment is wonderful
Here are two local talents
Matti Bye (who is also a composer)
And Edward Von der Past
Tiggerlion says
I’ve seen one of National Theatre’s direct to cinema performances, Othello. It was ok. Not as good as being able to smell the makeup. It was also quite a slow, dull performance. Bailed out at half-time.
Kaisfatdad says
If anyone is interested, here is an Arts Council report on Event Cinema
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/From_Live_to_Digital_OCT2016.pdf
It seems that people who attend cinema showings of live shows do not lose their appetite for the real thing.
Twang says
Yes, seen a few plays notably “Henry V” on the Anniversary of Agincourt which had gratis glass of vino and string quartet beforehand. Lovely way to do it – short drive to theatre, no requirement to go into London which is a bonus in itself.
BTW KFD I PM’d you….
Kaisfatdad says
Sorry @Twang. I replied to you at once but my mail does not seem to have arrived so, hanging my head in shame, I just resent it.
Twang says
Got it ta. You can’t reply to the email you get, you have to reply via the messaging part of this site.
mikethep says
Did you resent it as much as Twang did?
The Muswell Hillbilly says
I was in that! I hope you enjoyed it.
SteveT says
Just before xmas my wife took my mum to the cinema to see a live transmitted performance of Les Miserables. Apparently at the finish everyone in the cinema stood up and gave a standing ovation.
It was rousing apparently.
Arthur Cowslip says
I’ve only ever seen the live Monty Python O2 show a few years ago in the cinema.
My mum is a big fan of the Andre Rieu shows and seems to go to his new live/cinema show every few months! She loves them. (If anyone has never heard of him, he’s a celebrity violinist – pretty lowest common denominator I believe, bringing violin music to the masses and all that, but his talent and passion seem to be genuine).
SteveT says
@Arthur_-Cowslip yes my wife and mum have been to those too. They loved them, the thought of them fills me with dread.
Paul Wad says
Just the once, and funnily enough it was Fleabag. I loved the TV show and read the book with the scripts, so it only followed that I should go and see it at our local (independent) cinema. Our village doesn’t have a great deal of options for an evening’s entertainment, but the cinema is excellent. We’re usually a few weeks behind on the bigger film releases, but every showing is usually well attended, and when they put special events on, as they do regularly, it is almost always full. We have a local amateur dramatics group that put shows on, including the Christmas panto, we have a monthly comedy club which often has decent comics on and they have occasional bands on, usually tribute acts, but sometimes proper bands like Manfred Mann.
On a Sunday evening it’s blue rinse central, as the organist plays on the rather impressive old theatre organ that has been in the cinema for the past century. I never realised the full extent of the mechanisms of the organ until a TV show featured it last year. Under the stage there’s all sorts of contraptions that are triggered by pressing the organ keys. I just presumed all the sounds were synthesised (is that the correct term?), but no, under the stage there’s a line of different sized horns, different sized bells and all sorts, with strings and wires in every direction to trigger them all. I’ve never been to one of the organ recitals and probably never will, but I would mind a snoop around under the stage.
But it’s films that are the main draw. They occasionally put old films on too. I’ve seen a couple of Hammer horror double bills there. And when they put the ‘live’ theatre shows on they are always a sell out. For the films we always have an intermission, when the ice cream lady fetches her tray out and, more importantly, the bar re-opens, so pints can be topped back up for the second half (or popcorn in my case). Fleabag threw us, as it was quite short and didn’t have an interval. It was great though. It’s interesting reading about the evolution of the piece, from a 5 minute sketch to the two TV series. Before they filmed the series the location team popped a letter through my mate’s letter box in Kentish Town, as they wanted to us their house for the series (presumably just the exterior and doorway), but they said no!
Twang says
We’ve got a silent screening of “Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde” at the local church with live organ accompaniment in a few weeks. I’m really looking forward to it. A few months ago they did “A trip to the moon” and “Nosferatu” which was brilliant – candles, organ, spooky gothic church. Even a bar in the building next door. Fab.
Kaisfatdad says
What is the name of this wonderful venue, @PaulWad? It sounds a little like Reflexen. We have cinema along with amateur theatre, concerts etc,
You describe it as independent, Is it a foundation, a private company, oart of an independent chain (if such a thing exists).
Reflexen is a non-profit association, We get generous support from the municipality and the Swedish Film Board, Being manned by volunteers helps us to keep prices down.
Poor old Andre Rieu! He is getting a bit of stick here. I’m sure his gigs are a delight.
If I remember rightly, Andre also appeared on DuCool’s Best of 2019.
Paul Wad says
It’s the Penistone (stop sniggering at the back!) Paramount. It’s over 100 years old and as far as I’m aware it’s fully independent of any chain. In fact, I think it may be owned by the local council.
Kaisfatdad says
It is a cinema and a half! 350 seats! Fascinating to read about it.
http://www.penistoneparamount.co.uk/index.php
It looks like a very lively programme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penistone_Paramount_Cinema
We have 190 at Reflexen.
http://reflexen.nu/
Paul Wad says
Yes, we’re looking forward to JoJo Rabbit. I’m a fan of Taika Waititi. And we might go and watch 1917 again, as we feel guilty for not waiting and watching it at Meadowhall last week.
My one gripe with them is that their popcorn is the best, but they have greatly reduced the size of their biggest size. I’m very greedy when it comes to popcorn. It’s a superfood, so it’s good for you (if you ignore the sugar!), although there seems to be a worrying correlation between large buckets of popcorn and indigestion, but I’m ignoring that for now. Not that I’d be having any just now, as I decided to have a piece of Thornton’s toffee half an hour ago. I rarely eat toffee, as my teeth are horrible, full of fillings and crowns. The result of a neglectful adolescence. Anyway, I now have one tooth less than I had an hour ago. A crown has come off and it doesn’t look like it’s going back on. I guess I’ll need minor gob surgery to dig out what’s left of the tooth too, so that will be fun. I always used to say that I only had two regrets in life. Like Pam Ayers, I wish I’d looked after my teeth, and I wish I’d had more sex when I was younger, as you never know when you’re going to get a spinal cord tumour, but I have another one now, thanks to a difficult teenage daughter, I wish I’d never had kids! I’d have enough money in the bank to get a right nice set of choppers, like what famous people do!
Sorry, went off subject there a bit.
Gary says
I couldn’t take to JoJo Rabbit much. It had a lot going for it, but I thought it was really spoilt by the fact that the main kid in it can’t act.
Paul Wad says
That’s a shame.
I just read that Disney are chasing Waititi to direct a Star Wars film. Considering that he directed the Marvel film I enjoyed the most I hope he can produce a Star Wars film to match Force Awakens or Rogue One, as the last three haven’t done it for me. Although I may have enjoyed the last one more had I not taken the boy to watch it in 4DX, where after ignoring the warnings for people with back/neck problems, I spent most of the film in ruddy agony…and covered in popcorn.
hubert rawlinson says
I went to the Paramount many years ago when I was teacher training at Penistone Grammar although accompanied by a pre-Christmas group of school students was not the cinematographic experience I would like to live again.
Our ‘local’ independent is the Rex at Elland ( several miles from home) but Thursday morning is pensioner day with a free cup of tea and biscuits thrown in so worth the trip.
Not been to any of the ‘live’ showings but have had many a pleasant evening and morning there.
Kaisfatdad says
Thanks for the pic of the Rex, Hubert.
Here Biograf Reflexen in Kärrtorp, a mere five minutes walk away.
And we are celebrating. In 2019, we sold a grand total of 12,915 tickets– our best result since 1977.
The Penistone Paramount, the Rex at Elland…
Any other cinemas you would like to tell us about?
bigstevie says
Hippodrome in Bo’ness is the oldest in Scotland I read somewhere. A pal of mine’s wife was involved a bit in the refurbishment a few years ago. I have never been, but I remember reading that groups of kids were not allowed in, and up to a certain age had to be accompanied by an adult, because there’s fuckwittery at the cinema too.
https://www.hippodromecinema.co.uk/
Kaisfatdad says
Kids are fascinated by a cinema screen and sent to touch it. The last thing a Projectionist wants is lots of grubby pawprints.
Kaisfatdad says
The Hippodrome have their own Silent Film Festival. The only one in Scotland and it has all sorts of ambitious, inspiring ideas.
https://www.hippodromecinema.co.uk/silent-film-festival/
Sounds very interesting.
bigstevie says
I’m glad I told you, because I knew you’d investigate.
It’s not far away from me, and I think I should investigate.
Thanks!
hubert rawlinson says
We had a volunteer cinema open a few years ago, had to sit in blankets as the place had no heating. Moved to a heated building but the people running it moved to York so it is no longer running unfortunately.
Hopefully there is talk of a reopening sometime.
Meanwhile the Town Hall is running a series of Saturday morning family films.
Ah the joys of Saturday morning pictures. The B and W serial, the children film foundation film, and the manager turning the lights on if the audience got rowdy.
The singing along to the tune of Blaze Away the ABC minors song and the glow in the dark badge.
Paul Wad says
Ah, Penistone Grammar School, the establishment my daughter occasionally likes to visit. The place that texts me at least once per week to tell me she’s been put into isolation. I don’t know how long ago you were there, but it’s been completely rebuilt and is state of the art, even if it was apparently the least funded school in the country last year (and yet we’ve voted in a Tory MP – beggars belief). The courses that she’s chosen, particularly the stuff she’ll be doing in History, look fab, but can we get her to engage? Can we heck as like. I wish I’d had that school to go to back in 1981, rather than Holgate School in the middle of Barnsley.
hubert rawlinson says
Alas it was over 20 years ago that I was there so I was at the old place. Sometimes go past on the way to Sheffield.
Sorry to hear about your recalcitrant daughter hopefully she may come round to work at some point.
Paul Wad says
I left school in 1986, but PGS had the reputation for being the best school in Barnsley at that time. The school I went to stopped being Barnsley Grammar School and reverted to plain old Holgate School two years before I started, so years 1-3 were mixed and just from the local catchment area (town centre, not so nice in parts) and years 4-6 were all boys and the end of the Grammar school. Some of the older teachers were very bitter about it, as we went from being the best school om town to one of the worst very quickly. I’d maybe have had a better start in life had it remained the Grammar school, but at least with it changing to a comprehensive, with girls admitted, it gave me the second thing worth going to school for, the first being captaining the footy team. Although I have very bad memories of missing an open goal away at Penistone in around 1984. I was a defender and not used to being that far forward, so I froze. The only time I scored a goal the game was abandoned at half time!
After events of the past week, and the telling off she got from ‘the Feds’ – seriously, her little gang call the local Bobbies ‘Feds’, like we live in Queens or Compton, rather than a sleepy little market town at the top of the Peak District – I’m hopeful that darling daughter will start to change her ways. We’ll see, I suppose.
Kaisfatdad says
Sorry to hear about your struggles, Paul. I wish you luck.
My 16 year old son also refers to the Swedish cops as the Feds. I suspect this is something he as picked up from YouTube.
I would enjoy a thread about life as a teenager in 2020. I will try and kick one off soon.
fentonsteve says
It’s horrid, Paul, isn’t it? I’ve had trouble with Offspring The Elder where we’ve had to call the rozzers. She does at least turn up to school, but does seem to have an arsehole magnet installed. When she eventually opens her eyes and gives them the shove, they turn abusive. Social media doesn’t help, as they’re always there in her room (if only virtually). Some days I would gladly turn off the internet.
Smudger says
Agree with others, it’s a great way to see theatre that you wouldn’t otherwise see very easily if you lived outside London.
I’ve seen the aforementioned Frankenstein, Hangmen with David Morrissey and David Hare’s Skylight with Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy at The Broadway in Nottingham.
I also think I saw some Goldfrapp film followed by a live performance at the cinema, although probably not National Theatre Live related.
Kaisfatdad says
What we are discussing here is known as Event Cinema and there seem to be a lot of rather creative ideas about how it might be used. The Met is a major pioneer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_cinema
A little about the various teens in the sector.
https://www.screendaily.com/features/future-looks-positive-for-event-cinema-after-growing-pains/5140382.article
Black Type says
I’ve seen All About Eve with Gillian Anderson and Lily James (they were sat either side of me 😉), An American In Paris (which I had seen previously at the theatre and is utterly wonderful), and a genuinely live performance of Coppelia by the Bolshoi Ballet from Moscow, with exciting footage from the foyer beforehand and interviews with the dancers in the interval to give us that full crazy Muscovite vibe!
Kaisfatdad says
Muscovite atmosphere sounds wonderful.
The Met and the NT are very good at throwing in backstage interviews and other extras to really enhance the live experience. When we had Wozzeck on Saturday, there was a Swedish singer making his debut and I believe he said a few words to the folks back home.
Kaisfatdad says
A classic event cinema coming up soon at the Rotterdam Film Festival.
https://iffr.com/en/2020/events/crash-live-score-by-rotterdam-philharmonic-orchestra?utm_medium=social_paid&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=crash&utm_content=url&fbclid=IwAR2UOQ5LT025qTwCdtaIGr318tJq5cl9g3K1B5p0K15HWaGBWj9T0KqE8_4
Kaisfatdad says
I am quite delighted and inspired to read abut all these local cinemas and how well they are doing.
I’ve been browsing a little about the Hippodrome and the Silent Film Festival.
Here is an interview with NFT pianist Neil Brand from its early days where he talks about the pleasure of playing there. It’s now been going strong 10 years. Very much a community event.
http://www.reelscotland.com/video-interview-neil-brand-on-the-hippodrome-festival-of-silent-cinema/
And the cherry on the cake for me was to just discover that my friend Martin grandma, Meg Beecroft, was the silent film pianist there in the 1920s.
Small world! I suspect the audiences were a wee bit rowdier back in those days.
New to me, Neil Brand is a big name in the silent film world.
https://www.royalalberthall.com/about-the-hall/news/2015/november/an-interview-with-silent-film-accompanist-neil-brand/
mikethep says
We’re well off for funky little old indy fleapits in my neck of the woods, East Kent. There’s the Silver Screen in Folkestone, the Empire in Sandwich, the Palace in Broadstairs, the Royal in Faversham, and best of all, the Carlton in Westgate-on-Sea. I’m afraid it’s too early in the morning to mess about with Imgur, but a spot of googling will bring results. There’s also the Kent Museum of the Moving Image in Deal. I’ve only been to the Silver Screen, but I think I feel a bit of a project coming on…
Apart from Ashford and Canterbury, the big beasts like Vue don’t have much of a toehold round here. Long may it last.
Kaisfatdad says
You are spoilt for choice! Remarkable!
I will browse around and learn more about these idiosyncratic establishments, Mike.
Kaisfatdad says
If you are interested in how different community cinemas function throughout Europe, this is an excellent read. Inspiring!
https://filmresearch.org/pdf/318.pdf
Bio Rio, where the Duke and I saw Fleabag, gets a mention.
Kaisfatdad says
Going slightly “off piste” for a moment. Unusual for me, I know but…..
Hubert’s comment about the cinema run by volunteers made me think of the “occupied cinemas”
They are described in that report I mentioned above. Cinemas which were squatted by film fans
And the two French cinema enthusiasts who wrote the report went on a grand to different cinemas in Europe to find out more abot the subject
And their slightly more “unbuttoned” website offers a series of articles about the cinemas they visited.
So many interest ideas and creative solutions!
I’ll start with a “cinema squat” in Rome! Cinema America Occupato
https://tourdescinemas.com/cinema-america-occupato-roma/?lang=en
Kaisfatdad says
Cinema occupations are not uncommon .I hear that the ABC Norwich was taken over in the 80s when threatened with closure.
That story led me to this.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/stunning-photographs-from-norfolk-s-cinema-archives-1-3893125
Kaisfatdad says
Correction! The ABC in Ipswich.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/27957
A city of which I know nothing except that my parents met there. So I owe it one!
retropath2 says
Of course, a cinema was the big ticket for live bands in Brum back in the day, or, more to the point, sometime around the late 80s. Moving to the city in 1981, all the very many gigs I saw in the 80s were likely to be there, give or take an odd Bingley Hall. Popular with @Tiggerlion in his formative years too, I gather.
I refer to the much missed Odeon, New Street.
http://www.birminghammusicarchive.com/the-odeon/
And I wonder, could it be the same @steveT sending in his stubs in the first part of that article, I wonder?