A different kind of intimacy

For the third year in a row, theater lovers in Prague will have the chance to see performances from London's Metropolitan Theater in the unlikeliest of places: the cinema.

The NT Live project began in 2007 as the brainchild of Prague based distribution company Aerofilms, which owns the popular Světozor, Aero and Bio Oko. Live High Definition satellite transmissions of performances from London began in 2007 and were met with widespread enthusiasm. As a result, the company has opened up its repertoire to a wider range of offerings. Project coordinator Martin Cikánek tells The Prague Post that while the project offers more selections than ever, quality is still the first criteria.

"Careful selection is always made based on artistic criteria as well as whether the offering will be attractive for audiences. NT Live has been chosen primarily for its very high artistic value. At the same time, we believe it is going to find its audience across the CEE region and will become a dramatic antipode to the Met," he said.

There is no doubt the popularity of these broadcasts has increased steadily since they were introduced. But it also seems clear that watching a theater performance projected in the cinema has limitations when compared with the live experience. Cikánek says there are several advantages for Prague audiences watching high-definition broadcasts, however, not the least of which is the fact that "they will save money on the trip to London."

"But seriously, a chain of multiple cameras is always used for the NT Live broadcasts. These cameras offer various angles, close-ups and dynamic movements which you would actually never experience while being at the actual performance," he says. "Actors are larger than life on movie screens, and you see all the subtle changes happening on their faces. It really creates a different kind of intimacy. Of course, for non-native speakers, subtitles are included in each broadcast: There are always English and Czech subtitles in each broadcast."

Nonetheless, the main concern for theater purists regarding the broadcasts is the quality of the picture and sound. Broadcasts in previous years have taken place without any significant problems, and the series is known for its strict monitoring of the equipment used in theaters that it designates to broadcast performances. Cikánek says the cinemas become more experienced each year, and the technology used to broadcast the performances improves, leading to an experience that rivals, and in some ways actually surpasses, the experience of watching a theater performance live, he says.

"Picture and sound quality are carefully monitored in every movie theater participating in the NT Live series. If a particular movie theater does not have the specific equipment required, which is usually certified by an independent body, they may not participate," he said.

Even with the most rigorous tests, however, accidents do happen.

"In February, we experienced a very weird accident at Aero. There was a test a couple of days before the broadcast, and everything went fine. Unfortunately, a scaffold was raised around a tall building next to Aero during the days between the test and the broadcast. The scaffold, being a hulk of metal, lowered the quality of the satellite signal so much that the broadcast was not possible," he says.

Aerofilms has broadcast 40 live transmissions over the past three years, and despite the fact that the process remains "a learning process," as Cikánek says, he feels this year will be the best ever.

Performances scheduled for 2011 include Hamlet, Fela!, King Lear, Disappearing Number, Frankenstein and The Cherry Orchard, with the season extending through the spring. Besides the live broadcasts, Aerofilms also offers an interesting and flexible opportunity for schools and large groups, says Cikánek.

"If we are called by a school that they want to bring their students to watch Hamlet for example, it is almost always possible to find a date that suits them," he says.

The diversity of the program ensures the live broadcasts should attract a wide range of audiences, from fans of classic drama, contemporary plays and musicals to younger-minded viewers for performances such as Fela!, produced by rapper Jay Z. Aerofilms' choice of broadcasts shows it is reaching out to the widest possible portion of the Prague audience.

Stephan Delbos can be reached at
sdelbos@praguepost.com