Look Ahead: Theatre streaming in January
You might say “Carl why haven’t you put a list together of all the shows that are available for virtual viewing, are you having another meltdown” and, yes, fair point but what can you do in The General Circumstances Of A Global Pandemic.
Anyway, below is a list of the best pre-recorded or live shows available to stream during lockdown 3 (you’re welcome)
Lazarus
David Bowie and Enda Walsh’s musical Lazarus – the stage sequel to The Man Who Fell The Earth starring Michael C Hall – is streaming this weekend (8 – 10 Jan) and timed to mark Bowie’s birthday and the fifth anniversary of his death.
Lazarus
Very few people saw it in 2015, due to the shortness of the run, secrecy of the process, and the size of the venues at the New York Theatre Workshop and Kings Cross pop-up production. I did, and it is really quite terrific.
Disney+
There is a whole area of Disney+ dedicated to musicals; a 160-minute live recording of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original stage production of musical Hamilton is still on the streaming service. For now…
(Fun fact: if you’re new to O2 or upgrading, you can get 6 months of Disney+ for free – hurrah).
National Theatre at Home
Our Royal National Theatre has launched a pay-for-plays streaming service – it costs £9.98 a month or £5.99-£7.99 per play. The NT’s 2020 panto, Dick Whittington, is available from 11 January for six weeks and new plays are added to the collection each month.
Note: National Theatre at Home would be a lot better with Follies on it.
Bush Theatre
The Bush’s experimental trans monologue Overflow (Jan 18-23) by Travis Alabanza (Burgerz) streams digitally.
Now you know.
Digital Theatre
Digital Theatre has more than 100 world class theatre experiences to watch, Funny Girl, starring Sheridan Smith, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Into The Woods and more.
Funny Girl
You can rent productions from £7.99 each or sign up for unlimited streaming for £9.99 a month.
The Shows Must Go On! YouTube Channel
Free weekly shows and concerts: The Shows Must Go On! is still going. Loads of random crap ends up being streamed for free on this channel. However, just occasionally an absolute classic does land. See: 42nd Street just before Christmas.
Don’t forget to donate if you watch too, obviously.
BBC iPlayer
I mean, Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes, Uncle Vanya and Northern Ballet are all on the BBC’s free streaming service. Do some digging around and pay your licence fee, citizens.
Bristol Old Vic – at Home
Bristol Old Vic has a live streamed productions and archive productions coming up including ‘Sherlock in Holmes – an online murder mystery’. You can Buy a Season Pass for just £12.99 which features a “rare bootleg capture” of the Bristol production of musical The Grinning Man is available until 28 February.
The Old Vic
The London theatre is re-streaming two productions from its In Camera initiative including Faith Healer (20-22 Jan) starring Michael Sheen and Lungs (27-29 Jan) featuring Matt Smith and Clare Foy. Both shows are available from a tenner.
Sky Arts
Last year, Britain’s only television channel dedicated solely to culture, Sky Arts, became free for everyone. Hurrah.
Rose
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, Martin Sherman’s Rose, starring Dame Maureen Lipman, will be free to watch on Sky Arts (27 Jan). The channel is available to Sky, Virgin Media and Talk Talk TV customers.
The Case of the Hung Parliament
This online Sherlock Holmes whodunnit by Les Enfants Terribles and the virtual reality company LIVR, TCOTP is an immersive alternative to traditional boardgames. (27 Jan-17 Feb).
Nottingham Playhouse Christmas shows
After the year we all had, we certainly deserve to keep the Christmas cheer going a little longer.
Alas, you can watch the Playhouse’s panto Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk for ages 3-8 for £10 and £20 respectively – on demand until 16 January.
Sunset Boulevard
Leicester Curve’s digital concert production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version of 1950 film Sunset Boulevard – smartly staged and lavishly produced stream – starring Ria Jones and Danny Mac has been extended by a week and will now be available to stream online until 17 January. It is the best of the bunch of streaming musicals right now.
Shakespeare’s Globe’s digital platform: Globe Player
Twelfth Night
There are more than 130 professionally filmed plays to rent (£5.99) or own (£11.99) from the Globe’s streaming platform. Highlights include Emma Rice’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and a hypnotic Twelfth Night starring Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry.
There we have it.
If you are streaming a show or have any other recommendations please get in touch.
E: mrcarlwoodward@gmail.com
I will be publishing these blogs regularly, so.
Cheers!
