The darker sides of fame and fortune will be explored in two different but equally compelling theatrical screenings this month.
The Gala Theatre and Cinema in Durham is screening the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) production of Timon of Athens live from Stratford upon Avon on Wednesday 20 November at 7pm.
This will be followed by a screening of the National Theatre’s production of Present Laughter, starring Andrew Scott of Sherlock and Fleabag fame, on Thursday 28 November at 7pm.
Starring award-winning actor Kathryn Hunter, Timon of Athens is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Life of Timon of Athens, believed to have been written in collaboration with Thomas Middleton in about 1605 or 1606.
In a world driven by greed, Timon (Hunter) has it all – money, influence and friends. However, when her money runs out, Timon’s friends also disappear. Left alone, she flees Athens and takes refuge in the woods, cursing the city in which she once lived.
Directed by Simon Godwin, Timon of Athens is a glittering and biting satire exploring whether money truly does buy happiness.
Present Laughter, meanwhile, is a comic play by Noel Coward but it also has Shakespearean influences, as its title is drawn from a song in Twelfth Night.
As he prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine’s (Scott) life is in danger of spiralling out of control. Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his attention, Garry’s few remaining days are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul-searching.
Captured live from The Old Vic in London, Present Laughter is a modern reflection on fame, desire and loneliness.
Robin Byers, Gala Theatre manager, said: “The issues covered in Timon of Athens and Present Laughter are as relevant today as they were when they were first performed, and I am sure audiences will not be disappointed.”
Tickets for each show cost £15, £13 for concessions and £10 for Gala members. To book, contact 03000 266 600 or www.galadurham.co.uk
