National Theatre Live's King Lear at The Ritzy Cinema Brixton

This week I attended an evening of Shakespeare in a modern form. No, this wasn't a deathly "modern interpretation" involving a trapeze, electronic music or alternative dance before you collectively gasp. This was a live broadcast of the tragedy King Lear from the Donmar Theatre to cinemas worldwide.

Four of us gathered at the Ritzy early to share a bottle of wine, a quick dinner & quality updates. Little was said of the play beyond reminiscences of when we read/saw it last. One of the party played the part of Cordelia in a school production 10 years ago and thus was eager to see if tonight's youngest daughter would be up to scratch.

Taking our seats in the rather fittingly grand cinema, we didn't know what to expect from a film screening of the classic play. But it worked well. The Donmar theatre is an extemely intimate space which leant itself well to filming. The intensity of the production was easily transmitted onto the big screen and the wider audience was quickly drawn in.

Alas, however, technology of these modern times is a flawed being. Some way in to Act III, as Lear was in full flight of his madness, a technical fault put a temporary stop to the whole show and immediately snapped us back to our detached cinema seats. Cordelia beside me viewed this as an ideal opportunity to re-live her glory days and bring the play to a close with the rest of us as her acting troupe. Though I began to fear being dragged in front of the crowd, the kinks were ironed out and the play resumed and came to its bloody and tragic end as planned.

The play itself is too well known (and too dense!) to delve into here. Suffice it to say that it is one of the most powerful accounts of fierce and devastating betrayal ever created. The masterful acting by Derek Jacobi in the title role reminded me of why I love theatre.

Of course, we had almost as much fun in the aftermath-where we all agreed that the Duke of Cornwall's Liam Gallagher-esque swagger did not quite translate to Elizabethan theatre. And also that Cordelia was a tad to self-righteous for her own good.

A classic play, a hugely entertaining production and fine way to spend an evening.