Flames of Paris is a stunning Soviet-era ballet about the French Revolution that stars the incomparable Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev as French revolutionaries in this spirited production. The original production and choreography was reconstructed in 2008 by Alexei Ratmansky for the Bolshoi Ballet. The ballet was first produced in the 1930’s in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), at the Kirov (now the Mariinsky) Theatre, and then transferred to the Bolshoi.

The Flames of Paris is part of the ongoing World Opera and Ballet Season screened at the Fugard Theatre Bioscope, presented in association with Opus Arte and Emerging Pictures, The Royal Opera House, The Royal Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet Companies and Gran Teatre del Liceu and Teatro alla Scala proudly present the new 2012 / 2013 World Opera and Ballet Season. The new season is proudly supported by Fine Music Radio 101.3, a Cape Town based community radio station, focusing on classical and jazz music.

In 2011 the Fugard Theatre, in the heart of District Six, was furnished with state-of-the-art Digital Cinema and Surround Sound equipment to transform the theatre into a magnificent Bioscope when required. The World Opera and Ballet screenings are presented in full high definition, with 5.1 digital dolby surround sound. The recently completed inaugural season of World Opera and Ballet at the Fugard Theatre Bioscope featured iconic operas and many popular ballets, featuring some of the biggest stars of the World stages.

The 2012 film titles, screenings and times are as follows – please note the dates may be subject to change. All details are listed and on the Fugard Theatre website: www.thefugard.com.

19 August 2012; 14h00 and 18h00: The Flames of Paris (Ballet: Boris Asafiev: The Bolshoi Ballet Company)
9 September 2012; 14h00 and 18h00: Esmeralda (Ballet: Petipa: Bolshoi Ballet Company)
16 September 2012; 14h00 and 18h00: Aida (Opera: Verdi: Captured at Teatro del Maggio Musicalec Fiorentino)
13 and 14 October 2012; 16h00: Romeo and Juliet (Ballet: MacMillan: The Royal Ballet Company)
10 and 11 November 2012; 16h00: Les Troyens (Opera: The Royal Opera House)
17 and 18 November 2012; 16h00: Carmen (Opera: Bizet: Captured at Teatro alla Scala)
9 and 16 December 2012: 14h00 and 18h00: The Nutcracker (Ballet: The Royal Ballet Company)

The screening of Flames of Paris is this Sunday 19th August at 14h00 and 18h00 with tickets R100.00 per person. Friends of the Fugard benefit from generous discounts through the theatre’s box office. Bookings are via Computicket and the Fugard Theatre Box Office 021 461 4554. There is secure parking in the Harrington Street car park located at the corner of Caledon and Harrington streets and is available for the use of theatre patrons. A full cash bar is available before and after the screenings and patrons are encouraged to make use of the convenient pre-order system for interval refreshments.

The 280-seater Fugard Theatre is located within the historic Sacks Futeran building in Cape Town’s District Six, with the renovated Congregational Church Hall in Caledon Street as its entrance. Construction of The Fugard Theatre was underwritten by its founding producer Eric Abraham, and is named in honour of Athol Fugard, South Africa’s greatest playwright.