Tonight the Wellesley Cinema takes part in a little piece of movie history. A performance of Swan Lake by the Marinsky Ballet will be streamed live from St Petersburg via a satellite dish on the roof of the Wellington cinema and onto the screen – internet permitting.
“It’s a little bit hair-raising technically but we’ve had three test link-ups to Russia earlier today and it’s gone OK,” said Wellesley co-owner Keith Nash. “We’re hoping for a sell-out. The circle is already full and the stalls seats are going well.”
The ballet will be shown simultaneously in 50 countries around the world. The Wellesley is one of only 180 UK cinemas to be showing the live performance.
Broadband transmission is not the only headache for the cinema. Keith won’t know until several weeks after the show what exact fees are due to the Marinsky and producers.”To be honest the financial issues make me less worried than the possibility of a full house and wonky screen,” he said.
Some tickets for tonight are still available online http://www.wellesleycinema.co.uk/
Doors open at 5.30pm and the show starts at 6.15pm