Performances from Diana Rigg, Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen Part of Ovation TV’s Summer Shakespeare Festival

Diana Rigg, Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen, and Gary Oldman’s interpretations of Shakespeare’s work will be part of Ovation TV’s Summer Shakespeare Festival. From August 16-20, the channel will feature the bard’s work in its nightly programming.

Ovation’s Festival begins with Trevor Nunn’s 1996 film version of Twelfth Night, featuring Kingsley along with Helene Bonham Carter, Imogen Stubbs, and Steve Mackintosh. Peter Hall’s 1968 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, featuring Rigg and Mirren as Helena and Hermia, will air on August 17.

McKellen’s performance in Richard III is supported by turns from Annette Benning, Robert Downey Jr., Kristin Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith and this 1995 film version will be seen on August 18. On August 19, Ovation will air Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and rounding out the Festival will be director Michael Almereyda’s modern retelling of Hamlet, which stars Ethan Hawke.

For further information, visit www.OvationTV.com.