Acorn TV streams Patrick Stewart, Judi Dench in Playing Shakespeare and 60s spy series Man in a Suitcase on 12/19

On Monday, Dec. 19th, Acorn TV, the first streaming service specializing in British television, adds Patrick Stewart, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Ben Kingsley, and David Suchet in the critically-acclaimed Shakespearean master class series PLAYING SHAKESPEARE, and Richard Bradford in the 1960s spy series MAN IN A SUITCASE. The New York Times called Playing Shakespeare, “A rewarding experience for anybody even remotely interested in theater. For actors everywhere, it is required watching,” while NPR’s Fresh Air said, “every (episode) is a revelation…you'll be completely mesmerized.”

Additionally, Acorn TV is still streaming the U.S. debut of ABOVE SUSPICION, the newest series from Prime Suspect (UK) creator Lynda La Plante and starring Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes movies) and Ciarán Hinds (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Harry Potter); the classic PBS miniseries THE FORSYTE SAGA starring Damian Lewis (Showtime’s Homeland); as well as public TV hit DOC MARTIN, Acorn’s top-selling detective series FOYLE’S WAR, Derek Jacobi in CADFAEL, Masterpiece Theatre favorite POLDARK, ROSEMARY & THYME, andPeter Davison in THE LAST DETECTIVE. The first episode of each series is free.

Acorn TV offers a full season of 10 critically acclaimed, classic and contemporary British series to watch online. The first episode of each series is available for free. The annual fee is only $24.99. Acorn TV launched in July 2011, to serve as the first streaming service that curates the best of British television for American audiences. To meet consumer demand, it expanded to 10 series in September. Programming is refreshed weekly, with each season available for five weeks. Each week content will rotate with two new seasons added. The press releases on its launch and expansion are posted atwww.acornmedia.com

Dec. 19 New Additions:

PLAYING SHAKESPEARE: The Royal Shakespeare Company’s John Barton holds nine master classes featuring Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley, David Suchet, among others. The series was released on DVD in 2009 and reviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. The enlightening series aired on PBS in the mid-1980s and its companion book remains a popular acting guide to this day. Playing Shakespeare (DVD 4-volume, $79.99, www.AcornOnline.com) was one of the first releases in the Athena line, Acorn Media Group’s home video brand for consumers interested in lifelong learning through documentary programming.

MAN IN A SUITCASE: Accused of treason, a former American agent turns private eye. A gritty spy thriller in the vein of Secret Agent andDanger Man, Richard Bradford (The Untouchables) stars as “Mac” McGill, a cynical yet honest spy who has been disavowed by his American bosses and is on the run from a host of international enemies. Packed with tension and Cold War intrigue, Man in a Suitcase had national broadcast exposure on ABC in 1968. Wrongfully dismissed by his bosses in U.S. intelligence, McGill decides to freelance as a private detective based out of London. McGill’s work takes him far and wide, yet seemingly always on a collision course with the British authorities, the Soviets, and his old colleagues in American espionage. Beset by enemies on all sides, he strives to clear his name and restore his reputation. But until he does, he remains on the run, taking jobs in the dark and dangerous corners of European society. This action-packed Cold War drama features savvy writing and a host of superb guest stars, including Donald Sutherland (Pride & Prejudice),James Grout (Inspector Morse), Anton Rodgers (Lillie), Nicola Pagett (Upstairs, Downstairs), Peter Vaughan (The Remains of the Day), and Judy Geeson (Mad About You). (15 Episodes)

Acorn TV is accessible on computers, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV and Google TV. It is also available on any portable device with a browser that runs Flash 10 or higher, with additional devices and applications to be offered within the next year. 

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Acorn/Athena January 2012 DVD Calendar

January 3: Joanna Lumley in Dr. Willoughby, Richard Bradford in Man in a Suitcase, Set 2, and The Windsors: From George to Kate

January 17: Bill Moyers: Amazing Grace and George Gently, Series 1 (Blu-ray)

January 31: Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Series 1 and 2 (DVD and Blu-ray) and Poldark: The Complete Collection

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media U.S. distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British TV. 2011 releases included Upstairs, Downstairs: 40^th Anniversary, Brideshead Revisited: 30^th Anniversary, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Early 2012 releases include a bonus packed collector’s edition of I, Claudius starring Derek Jacobi; the Blu-ray debuts for the first three series of Agatha Christie’s Poirot; the first Blu-ray of Acorn’s top-selling series withMidsomer Murders, Set 19; the U.S. debut of Lynda La Plante’s Above Suspicion; complete collections of Poldark, The Brief, Northern Lights, and French Fields; and more episodes from Single-Handed, New Tricks, and Murder Investigation Team. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.