King John

[projekktor id=’18404′]

The Stratford Festival HD program continues this month with King John. Director Barry Avrich captured a live performance of the Tim Carroll directed stage show late last year. Now audiences can experience it at select Cineplex theatres in high-definition. Main players in the cast include Tom McCamus, Seana McKenna, Graham Abbey and Patricia Collins.

War is the inevitable result when the King of France demands that John relinquish his crown in favour of his nephew, the young Prince Arthur. Excommunication, attempted atrocity, rebellion and assassination all contribute to a political and personal turmoil that finds devastating expression in an anguished mother’s grief for her son.

Avrich appeared on CHCH’s Morning Live to talk about the challenge of shooting King John in a public theatre. “It’s frightening because there’s no hiding any cameras. And because Tim Carroll, the director, set the play in daylight it’s brightly lit. The audience is part of the production. So the challenge really is how to ensure that the audience is not distracted by the cameras and the film equipment around them and they’re watching the performances. And you’ll see … that the audience is part of the production. It’s pretty sensational.”

King John is suitable for viewers ages 12 and up. Read our review here.