Online Theatre roundup

By Liz Dyer

The lockdown may be starting to ease, but sadly it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to head back to the theatre any time soon. But it’s not all bad news: more and more theatres across the country (and the world) are sharing content online to keep us entertained during these difficult times. The following is by no means a comprehensive list, and more shows are being released online all the time, while others are only available for a very short period - so it’s definitely worth a Google to see what’s on at the moment. But for now here are just a few of the options on offer at time of going to press: As we mentioned last month, Andrew Lloyd Webber is releasing a show on YouTube every Friday, usually just for 24 or 48 hours, so keep an eye on The Shows Must Go On! YouTube channel for updates. Meanwhile BBC Culture in Quarantine offers not just theatre, but all manner of visual arts including exhibitions, music and even a life drawing class! Visit bbc.co.uk/arts for details. You can now watch 60-minute specials from world-famous Cirque du Soleil on YouTube for free, including show footage and behind-the-scenes documentaries. Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures have released four of his classic productions to rent or purchase online; visit newadventures.net for more info. And you can catch a new creatively staged Shakespeare play on YouTube each week, as The Show Must Go Online brings together actors from across the world to perform from home for our entertainment. And that’s not all. Theatres across the nation, including Southwark Playhouse, Leicester Curve, Chichester Festival Theatre, National Theatre, Barn Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, Hampstead Theatre, The Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells are all sharing content online. So is Soho Theatre, and their offering includes the original Fleabag, which you can view for £4 – but don’t delay as it’s only available until 31st May! Last year the 25th anniversary of legendary musical Les Misérables was marked with an all-star concert in the West End, featuring the likes of Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas. Rent it at home now for just £4.99, or buy the download for £9.99. And you can also watch Take Me To The World, the recent 90th birthday celebration for Stephen Sondheim, featuring some of Broadway’s hottest stars, totally free on YouTube. For younger viewers, The Wind in the Willows, starring Rufus Hound, Denise Welch and Gary Wilmot, is available to watch online for just £4.99 – visit windinthewillowmusical. com - or you can rent the Broadway production of Shrek the Musical on Amazon Prime for just £3.49. And why not pay a visit (online, naturally) to London’s Unicorn Theatre, Half Moon Theatre and Chickenshed, which are just a few of the organisations sharing digital content to entertain young audiences during lockdown. Apologies if any of the above is no longer available by the time you read this – as Boris might say, it’s a constantly evolving situation ;)

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