Sony announced, during BVE this week, a new agreement with the National Theatre and Vue Entertainment International to screen four National Theatre Live stage productions in 4K UHD.
The three-way partnership represents the first agreement of its kind between a leading cultural brand, a cinema chain and an electronics manufacturer.
The four shows will be captured with Sony cameras at 4K resolution, while during the 12-month tie-up, Vue customers at its 83 sites across the country will be able to enjoy the productions projected in 4K digital cinema projection.
The first fruit of the new partnership is the NT’s production of David Hare’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, based on the book by Katherine Boo, directed by Rufus Norris and starring Meera Syal.
Captured using Sony’s F55 cameras, the recorded performance will be distributed to Vue Cinemas as a 4K Digital Cinema Package (DCP) stored on a hard drive or transmitted securely by satellite.
It’s anticipated that National Theatre Live, Sony and Vue Entertainment International will push the boundaries of event cinema even further with other technical innovations during the course of the 12-month agreement, including live 4K capture and transmission of future productions.
Emma Keith, producer of National Theatre Live, said: “National Theatre Live continually aims to push the boundaries and ensure we’re at the cutting edge. By partnering with Sony and Vue Entertainment International and enabling our audiences to experience our broadcasts in 4K Ultra High Definition we’re ensuring the best quality experience.”
Photo: In 2014 National Theatre Live (NT Live) broadcast War Horse live from the New London Theatre to cinemas across the world
