Monty Python Stage Show to Play in Movie Theaters Worldwide

LONDON — Picturehouse Entertainment has nabbed the international distribution rights to broadcast Monty Python’s final live show at London’s O2 Arena on July 20 to movie theaters around the world.

The show, “The Last Night of Monty Python,” has been billed as a farewell to the comedy troupe. “Join the crowd live from London’s O2 in a final weepy, hilarious, uproarious, outrageous, farewell to the five remaining Pythons as they head for The Old Jokes Home … on the big screen, in HD,” the Pythons said in a statement.

It will be directed by Aubrey Powell and produced by Fiz Oliver. John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin will perform some of Monty Python’s best-known hits, “with modern, topical, Pythonesque twists.”

There was huge demand for tickets for the live performances at the O2, which was Monty Python first performance on stage since they appeared at the Hollywood Bowl in 1980. More than 450 cinemas across the U.K. will take the live broadcast, and some 1,500 screens across the world, according to the Pythons.

“Thanks to the wonderful invention of moving pictures, ‘The Last Night of Monty Python’ is coming to a cinema near you,” the Pythons said in a statement. “Get your knotted handkerchiefs out and warm your brains one last time.”

“Picturehouse Entertainment continue to push the boundaries of live cinema broadcasts in what is set to be one of the biggest and certainly funniest events of the year,” said Marc Allenby, head of commercial development at Picturehouse.

Monty Python appeared in 45 episodes of their series for the BBC between 1969 and 1974, as well as films such as “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” in 1975, “Life of Brian” in 1979 and “The Meaning of Life” in 1983.

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