Wales

Going to the cinema to watch a Shakespearian theatre production may seem like an odd concept, but that's just what National Theatre Live has planned for February.

The Donmar Warehouse's production of King Lear, with Sir Derek Jacobi at the helm in the eponymous role, will visit Llandudno as part of a UK wide tour at the end of February.

Yet before that, the play will be broadcast to cinemas worldwide on Thursday 3 February, with seven cinemas in Wales taking part in the screening.

Sir Derek Jacobi as King Lear. Photo: Johan Persson

The Donmar Warehouse's production of King Lear stars Jacobi in the lead role as the ageing monarch, while supporting cast members include Pippa Bennett-Warner as the innocent Cordelia, Gina McKee and Justine Mitchell as sisters Goneril and Regan, plus Paul Jesson (Gloucester) ,Gwilym Lee (Edmund) and Alec Newman (Edgar).

Jacobi (Lear) and Pippa Bennett-Warner (Cordelia). Photo: Johan Persson

The live screenings on 3 February come just weeks before the production starts an eight-week national tour, which begins at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on 22 February, and will run there until 26 February 2011.

For more information on venues in Wales that are screening the production visit the National Theatre Live website, or for more information on the theatre production in Llandudno, visit the Venue Cymru site.