National Theater Live from Britain will broadcast six classic British plays at Shenzhen Grand Theater in May and June. The play will be in English with Chinese subtitles. National Theater Live is an initiative operated by the Royal National Theater in London, which broadcasts live performances of their productions to theaters, cinemas and arts centers in the world. Cameras are carefully positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure that cinema audiences get the “best seat in the house” view of each production.

    ‘Hamlet’

    Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy. As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father’s death but paralyzed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state. The production was directed by Lyndsey Turner and produced by Sonia Friedman, which started its 12-week run in August 2015.

    Time: 7:30 p.m., May 28

    ‘Othello’

    Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester takes on the title role in Shakespeare’s celebrated play about the destructive power of jealousy. Playing opposite him as the duplicitous Iago is fellow Olivier Award-winner Rory Kinnear. Othello, newly married to Desdemona — who is half his age — is appointed leader of a major military operation. Iago, passed over for promotion by Othello in favor of the young Cassio, persuades Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.

    Time: 7:30 p.m., May 29

    ‘King Lear’

    Academy Award winner Sam Mendes returns to the National Theater to direct Simon Russell Beale in the title role of Shakespeare’s tragedy. An aged king decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, according to which of them is most eloquent in praising him. His favorite, Cordelia, says nothing. Lear’s world descends into chaos.

    Time: 2:30 p.m., May 29

    ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’

    Richard Bean’s award-winning play is a glorious celebration of British comedy: a unique, laugh-out-loud mix of satire, songs, slapstick and glittering one-liners. “One Man, Two Guvnors” is an English adaptation of “Servant of Two Masters,” a 1743 Commedia dell’arte style comedy play by the Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni. The play replaces the Italian period setting of the original with Brighton in 1963.

    A socially naive Francis Henshall becomes separately employed by two men — Roscoe Crabbe, a local gangster and Stanley Stubbers, an upper class criminal. Francis tries to keep the two from meeting, in order to avoid each of them learning that Francis is also working for someone else. However, it turns out that Roscoe is really Rachel Crabbe in disguise, her twin brother Roscoe having been killed by her lover, who is none other than Stanley Stubbers. Mixed in with these chaotic events is Pauline Clench who was originally meant to marry Roscoe but is now set to elope with over-the-top amateur actor Alan Dangle.

    Time: 7:30 p.m., June 4

    ‘As You Like It’

    Shakespeare’s glorious comedy of love and change has Rosalie Craig as Rosalind. With her father the Duke banished and in exile, Rosalind and her cousin Celia leave their lives in the court behind them and journey into the Forest of Arden. There, released from convention, Rosalind experiences the liberating rush of transformation. Disguising herself as a boy, she embraces a different way of living and falls spectacularly in love.

    Time: 2:30 p.m., June 5

    ‘Man and Superman’

    Ralph Fiennes plays Jack Tanner in this exhilarating reinvention of Bernard Shaw’s witty, provocative classic. Jack Tanner, celebrated radical thinker and rich bachelor, seems an unlikely choice as guardian to the alluring heiress, Ann. But she takes it in her assured stride and, despite the love of a poet, she decides to marry and tame this dazzling revolutionary.

    Tanner, appalled by the whiff of domesticity, is tipped off by his chauffeur and flees to Spain, where he is captured by bandits and meets The Devil. An extraordinary dream-debate, heaven versus hell, ensues. Following in hot pursuit, Ann is there when Tanner awakes, as fierce in her certainty as he is in his. A romantic comedy, an epic fairy tale, a fiery philosophical debate, “Man and Superman” asks fundamental questions about how we live.

    Time: 7:30 p.m., June 5

    Tickets: 108-160 yuan

    Reservations:

    400-610-3721

    Venue: Shenzhen Grand Theater, 5018 Shennan Road East, Luohu District (罗湖区深南东路5018号深圳大剧院)

    Metro: Luobao or Shekou Line, Grand Theater Station (大剧院站), Exit B(SD News)