SKIPTON'S Plaza Cinema is going 'live' with a production of Kenneth Branagh's Romeo and Juliet.

The Branagh Theatre Company's production of one of William Shakespeare's most popular plays on July 7 will launch the start of a series of live screenings at the cinema.

These will also include another Shakespeare play, Richard III, and by contrast, Andre Rieu's 2016 Maastricht concert – screened live to Skipton by satellite from The Netherlands.

In Romeo and Juliet, Branagh co-directs the story of the longstanding feud between Verona's Montague and Capulet families, which ultimately ends in disaster for the young couple. It's star, Lily James, went on to play Lady Rose in television's Downton Abbey, while it also features Richard Madden and Derek Jacobi.

Plaza owner, Charles Morris, said:“It’s great to be starting a new series of live broadcasts.

"We’ve been equipped for some time but it takes quite a bit of planning to fit them in round our normal programming, due to the constraints put on us by the film distributors.

"It is a great opportunity for people to see these productions concurrently with their performance in London, or wherever; and considerably cheaper, too."

Next up, on July, 21, will be the Almeida Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s Richard III, with Ralph Fiennes as Richard and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret.

The cinema will play Andre Rieu’s 2016 Maastricht concert on July 23.

Tickets are available from the cinema or on line, priced £15 (£12 concessions).