These include the four Cinema Nouveau theatres – Rosebank Mall in Johannesburg, Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria, Gateway in Durban and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town – and Ster-Kinekor sites at Bedford View, Cedar Square, Sandton and Somerset Mall.

Picturehouse Entertainment has secured the international distribution rights to broadcast the Monty Python Live (mostly) show that was recorded on Sunday, 20 July. The historic Last Night of the Pythons Live from London’s O2 Arena, is currently being screened in cinemas across the globe, including here in South Africa, thanks to Ster-Kinekor Theatres and Cinema Nouveau.

Monty Python fans around the world have the opportunity of joining one of the most anticipated live events of the year, and the chance to say farewell to the Pythons, together on stage for the first time in more than three decades, on this last and special night. The live show, featuring John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with Graham Chapman, and performances by Carol Cleveland, is directed by Aubrey Powell and produced by Fiz Oliver.

Monty Python rightfully holds a place amongst the world’s finest ever comedians, influencing a generation and revolutionising comedy on its way to greatness. At a combined age of just 357, Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones and Palin have once again taken to the stage to perform some of Monty Python’s greatest hits with some modern, topical and Pythonesque twists added for good measure.

There was huge demand for tickets for this, the first live performances on stage by the stars of Monty Python since performing at the Hollywood Bowl on 15 September 1980 – and 40 years after their last stage appearance in the UK, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

“Thanks to the wonderful invention of moving pictures, The Last Night of Monty Python is coming to a cinema near you. Get your knotted handkerchiefs out and warm your brains one last time at any one of thousands of cinemas across the world. 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,” said the Pythons.

“At first there was some resistance to the idea of having to share each other’s tights again, but when it was explained that we were going to get paid, the deal was signed in a record 43.6 seconds. Relief turned to pure joy when medical checks proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that five of us were still alive. Even Graham (Chapman), though less alive than the rest of us, is to be reunited with us all via the miracle of digital re-creation.”

Monty Python first hit the (TV) screen with the Flying Circus, which saw 45 episodes broadcast over four BBC series between 1969 and 1974. The Pythons were an instant success and became the face of British comedy. They went on to achieve overwhelming international acclaim with the huge success of films such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1975, The Life of Brian in 1979 and their final film, The Meaning of Life in 1983.

The running time of the ‘live’ show is approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes, and includes a 20-minute interval.

In anticipation of the screenings, and to get in the spirit of Monty Python, everyone can join the official Python fan club – Monty Python’s SPAM Club – at www.pythonspamclub.com. Proudly touted as ‘what may be the worst run fan club in the world’, the Python SPAM Club will bring trademark Monty Python humour closer to fans by bringing it, literally, to their doorstop.

For more information about Monty Python Live (mostly) and to make bookings, visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za and sterkinekor.mobi, or phone Ticketline on 0861 668 437. Alternatively, follow @nouveaubuzz on Twitter and visit and like Cinema Nouveau’s page on Facebook, here.