Barry Purves: The Infinite Variety Show

We're delighted to invite Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated director Barry Purves back to Flatpack to deconstruct his groundbreaking film, Next.

As we approach the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death (see also Rare Visions), it seemed an ideal opportunity to invite Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated director Barry Purves back to Flatpack to deconstruct his groundbreaking film, Next. This 1990 Aardman-produced short features the Bard himself, alone on stage, performing his complete works in five minutes as a frantic audition piece for a less-than-impressed producer. Barry will reveal secrets of the animation process and the history behind the film, while asking the audience to join in by spotting references to the plays. With provocative and intriguing connections between the theatricality of Shakespeare's plays and the gloriously artificial realm of animation, you may not look at either world in the same light again.

The Infinite Variety Show and Rare Visions are part of Shakespeare on Film, a UK-wide programme presented by Film London and the British Film Institute.