Football fans in Ashfield can watch Dear England, James Graham’s new play about Gareth Southgate and England’s football squads, when the Arc Cinema in Hucknall screens a live performance by NT Live.
NT Live is the National Theatre’s groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theatre live from the London stage to cinemas across the UK and around the world. Since it launched in June 2009, the National Theatre team have broadcast live performances of 100 plays, culminating with Nye, with Michael Sheen, on 23 April.
Dear England stars Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate in this fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams. Based on extensive research and interviews, it features characters inspired by some real-life individuals, and some composite characters entirely imagined by the author.
The play began its London run in the Olivier Theatre, the largest of three auditoriums in the National Theatre’s centre on the south bank of the River Thames, in June last year before moving to the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre in Old Compton Street.
“It’s time to change the game”, the play’s publicity material says. “The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?
“With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.”
Dear England tells that story.
The screening of NT Live: Dear England at The Arc in Hucknall is part of a frequent offering of live and recorded stage performances. Next week, on Thursday 30 May, cinemagoers can watch a performance of Message in a Bottle by the Royal Ballet, recorded at the prestigious Sadler’s Wells in August 2022.
Message In A Bottle is a spectacular dance-theatre show from five-time Olivier Award nominee, Kate Prince, inspired by and set to the iconic hits of 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting.
Songs include Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, and Walking On The Moon. It tells a “unifying and uplifting story of humanity and hope”, set in the peaceful village of Bebko, which is alive with joyous celebrations. ”Suddenly, under attack, everything changes forever. Three siblings, Leto, Mati and Tana, must embark on perilous journeys in order to survive.” Message in a Bottle tells the story.
The Royal Ballet’s Message in a Bottle will be screened at 6.45 pm on Thursday 30 May.
The National Theatre’s Dear England will be screened at 8.00 pm on Thursday 13 June.
- You can find details on Ashfield Neighbour News’ regularly updated listings of Arc Hucknall screenings by date or title, or on the Arc’s own website: hucknall.arccinema.co.uk.
