BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese audiences can enjoy a series of recordings of William Shakespeare's plays in cinemas as the 2019 Shakespeare on Screen Festival kicked off in Beijing Wednesday.
The festival commenced with the screening of "King Lear," presented by National Theatre Live in the United Kingdom (UK), in which the titular character is portrayed by acclaimed stage actor Sir Ian McKellen.
A total of 10 recordings of Shakespeare's plays will be screened in cinemas across the country from July to September, including "Hamlet," "Coriolanus," "Antony and Cleopatra," "Macbeth" and "Romeo and Juliet," among others.
The festival is supported by the British Council, a UK-based international organization for cultural relations. It is scheduled to take place in about 20 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing.
