IN this the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, The Palace Cinema in Alton was today due to provide the venue for the first in a series of three major production’s, performed at the Globe Theatre in London, but relayed around the country as part of the ‘Gobe on Screen’ initiative.

Hitting the screen on Thursday was Measure for Measure, the wickedly black comedy of sexual politics and identity, featuring stellar performances by Mariah Gale as Isabella, Dominic Rowan as Duke Vincent, and Kurt Egyiawan as Angelo.

This will followed on June 16 by Jonathan Munby’s moving production of The Merchant of Venice.

This iconic tale of the battle between greed and love, features Olivier Award-winning stage and screen star Jonathan Pryce (Game Of Thrones, Wolf Hall) who takes the role of enigmatic Shylock alongside his own daughter, Phoebe Pryce, who plays Jessica.

On Thursday, June 30, the Palace Cinema screen will come alive once again for the showing of Richard II.

Simmering with both violence and comedic irony, Simon Godwin’s Richard II features a tour de force performance from Charles Edwards (Downton Abbey, Philomena) in the title role. A production that delves into the meaning of kingship and the rising powers that can destroy it, the rich colours and lavish costumes of this sumptuous historical masterpiece transfer superbly to the big screen.

Globe On Screen gives cinemagoers across the UK a unique opportunity to be part of the occasion as each sellout performance is captured in exceptional high definition and full surround sound, to be transported from their local cinema directly into the standing yard of one of the world’s most unique theatres.