Variety, 27 November 2015
By Mark Shenton
Thanks, Jane

The live broadcast of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s stage production of “The Winter’s Tale” topped the U.K. cinema box office on Thursday.

William Shakespeare’s play, which was screened in 520 movie theaters across the U.K. in partnership with Picturehouse Entertainment, grossed £1.1 million ($1.66 million), beating “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” to claim the top spot.

“The Winter’s Tale,” which was broadcast live from London’s Garrick Theatre, was also aired in more than 100 movie theaters outside the U.K., including Portugal, Spain, Canada, Austria, Malta and Germany. It will also be screened in U.S. movie theaters on Nov. 30. Further broadcasts will be held across the U.K. throughout the Christmas period. Australia and Northern Europe will screen the production in January.

The tragicomedy of obsession and redemption is reimagined in a new production co-directed by Rob Ashford and Branagh. Judi Dench plays Paulina opposite Branagh as Leontes.

The cinema broadcast was directed by Benjamin Caron, who recently collaborated with Branagh on the forthcoming series of “Wallander,” due to be broadcast on the BBC next year.

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s “Romeo and Juliet,” which plays at the Garrick from May 12 to Aug. 13, will be broadcast in movie theaters on July 7. Its production of “The Entertainer” will also be screened later in 2016.