Sell-out audiences at Shrosphire theatre screenings
Live screenings of National Theatre shows community venues across rural parts of Shropshire are attracting bumper attendances.
Stage productions in London have been shown to great acclaim, say organisers, as part of the Flicks in the Sticks programme after three of the 80 venues involved – including The Edge Arts Centre in Much Wenlock and SpArC in Bishop's Castle – installed satellite technology in the past year.
Officials have said the 16 National Theatre shows broadcast had proved very popular, with several new faces attending Flicks in the Sticks events for the first time.
Nine more shows are to be screened in the coming months.
Flicks in the Sticks began more than 10 years ago and uses digital technology to take films to remote locations across Shropshire and
Ian Kerry, director of Flicks in the Sticks, said the venues showing National Theatre productions had sold out many times.
He said: "It's great that Flicks in the Sticks has been part of the National Theatre's ground-breaking project.
"A few years ago it would have been unimaginable but we hope that this is the beginning, with more live events in the future.
"We have had help to bring some equipment into three halls for this experimental phase and who knows what will be possible in the next few years."
He said audiences included regular Flicks-goers who remained loyal to their venues but new punters had been drawn by the live nature of the shows.
He added: "There are still nine more screenings to come." Visit www.artsalive.co.uk
