The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's THE ENTERTAINER Plays Final Weeks at The Garrick

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company in partnership with Picturehouse Entertainment invites dozens of countries around the world, including over 600 cinemas across the UK, to share one of The Entertainer's final performances. John Osborne's modern classic will be broadcast live to cinemas direct from London's Garrick Theatre on Thursday 27 October, marking the final production in a year of unmissable theatre.

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company has staged seven plays at the Garrick over the past eleven months featuring a total of 64 actors wearing some 286 costumes and 36 wigs. Eighteen cast members made their West End debuts in the acclaimed productions, playing opposite actors such as Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, Zoë Wanamaker, Lily James, Richard Madden, Adrian Lester, Rob Brydon and Meera Syal.

The Plays at the Garrick season has now sold more than 30,000 theatre tickets for just £15, which included seats in the front row of the stalls via the Today Tix mobile and online lottery. Around the world, over 340,000 people have seen the Branagh Theatre Live broadcasts of Romeo and Julietstarring Derek Jacobi, Lily James and Richard Madden in July 2016 and The Winter's Tale with Kenneth Branagh opposite Judi Dench in November 2015.

Set against the backdrop of post-war Britain, John Osborne?s The Entertainer conjures the seedy glamour of the old music halls for an examination of public masks and private torment. Rob Ashforddirects Kenneth Branagh as Archie Rice alongside Phil Dunster as Graham, Gawn Grainger as Billy Rice, Jonah Hauer-King as Frank Rice, Crispin Letts as Brother Bill, Sophie McShera as Jean Rice and Greta Scacchi as Phoebe Rice. Further casting also includes Lauren Alexandra, Yasmin Harrison, Pip Jordan and Kate Tydman as dancers.

The cinema broadcast of The Entertainer is directed by Benjamin Caron, who also directed the broadcasts of The Winter's Tale and Romeo and Juliet, and recently collaborated with Kenneth Branagh on the final series of Wallander (BBC). Caron has also directed two episodes of the greatly anticipated new Netflix series The Crown by Peter Morgan.

The Plays at the Garrick season for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company featured productions of The Winter's Tale, Harlequinade / All On Her Own, Red Velvet, The Painkiller, Romeo and Juliet and The Entertainer.

Participating cinemas and screening dates can be found at branaghtheatrelive.com

For more information and to buy theatre tickets for The Entertainer please see www.branaghtheatre.com

Photo Credit: Johan Persson