In view of the Coronavirus now hitting the arts in the UK, with theatres and venues closing for the foreseeable future, we thought it might be an opportunity to share some digital resources.
Theatre isn’t only about performances on a stage, it is about embracing the body and soul – a means to escape from the world we live in, to a land of make-believe. Being in an audience watching a production and feeling the hairs go up on the back of your neck is a magical moment and many people will miss their regular dose.
While the theatres and venues are dark, maybe the following links will enable some of you to escape for a moment or two, either online with your mobile, tablet, laptop or pc – or download to watch on your tv.
To all involved in the world of make-believe – theatre and the performing arts – the land will be a darker place without you, but this time will pass and a new magical world will blossom at some future date.
Very best wishes,
Neil Cheesman
@LondonTheatre1
ps If you have any suggestions please add them in the comments below. If you are sharing online please tag us #LondonTheatre1
Please Visit our shop on Amazon:
Exercise at Home, Working at Home, Home Schooling, Costumes, Classics, Leading Men, Leading Ladies, Broadway, London West End, Shakespeare, Household Gifts, T-Shirts, Plays, Musicals.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/londontheatre1
FREE Books on Audible (including Les Miserables
https://stories.audible.com/discovery
ENTERTAINED AT HOME – NEW ONLINE IDEAS FROM COMEDIANS TO HELP WITH THE LOCKDOWN BOREDOM AND THE BEST ON-DEMAND STAND-UP AND TV COMEDY
https://avalonuk.com/
From Chatterpack
A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources!
Lots of free programmes!
https://archive.org/
IMMERSIVE LDN
As the theatre industry and wider society reels from the unprecedented shock of the coronavirus outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic, many producers and artists are taking the initiative to share work and support each other during these difficult times.
The team at IMMERSIVE LDN (the West End venue dedicated to developing and staging theatre-led immersive experiences, which like all London and UK theatres has closed its doors for the foreseeable future) today announced that they will be curating the Housetrap Theatre & Arts Festival, which will be streamed live on Friday 3 April from 6.30pm – midnight.
The Festival is donation based, so audiences can give as they are able, and the money raised will be shared between the artists performing (with a small percentage going to the running costs).
http://www.immersiveldn.com/housetrap/
Performers can apply to take part via the website www.immersiveldn.com/housetrap and potential slots will be between 15 – 50 minutes in length.
Gigglemug Theatre’s debut production Timpson: The Musical is free to watch on YouTube!
Two warring house. One ancient grudge. A whole lot of shoes.
Can the warring houses of Montashoe and Keypulet be united by a pair of star-crossed lovers? Journey to Victorian London where Monty Montashoe and Keeleigh Keypulet, two young inventors bursting with ambition, strive to break free from their humdrum lives and follow their dreams all the way to the 50th annual ‘Invention Convention’!
Sponsored by Timpson Ltd. themselves, this five star, award-winning new musical explaining the origins of everyone’s favourite high street cobblers is guaranteed hilarity for the whole family.
Book & Lyrics by Sam Cochrane & Chris Baker
Music by Tom Slade & Theo Caplan
Directed by Sam Cochrane
Musical Direction by Chris Poon
Performed live at the Stockwell Playhouse
London Symphony Orchestra
Although we’re sad not to perform live for you tonight, we are excited to share our new digital programme #AlwaysPlaying! Join us as we release full-length concerts, interviews, playlists and more in the coming weeks!
Creative Quarantine
As we all suddenly find ourselves with lots of time on our hands, we’re cooking up some exciting and enjoyable creative adventures for those young and old across the globe to enjoy together. – https://wearenonsuch.com/creativequarantine
The adventures begin on Monday 23rd March so sign up, get set and prepare to get creative!
THE COSMIC SHAMBLES NETWORK’S STAY AT HOME FESTIVAL
In a world where live performance has all but disappeared for the moment, Robin Ince and those clever people at The Cosmic Shambles Network have come up with an ingenious plan to banish our housebound boredom and keep us all entertained. They’ve been in touch with some of our best-loved performers and household name scientists and they are very pleased to announce that from Monday, 23 rd March (previews from 19th March) you will be able to go online to watch your favourite entertainers live via the internet-enabled device of your choice.
Each show will be free to watch but with a pay what you can option with any profits going to help performers and venues that are in the most need in these difficult times. The list of events and guests will be updated regularly at cosmicshambles.com/stayathome
The Show Must Go Online
Robert Myles today announces The Show Must Go Online, an online group that will read the complete plays of William Shakespeare in the order they were written, livestreamed on YouTube. Bringing actors and audiences together to collectively enjoy and experience Shakespeare at a time when connecting in a traditional theatre space isn’t possible.
Following the incredible success of their first reading of The Two Gentleman of Verona, The Show Must Go Online today announce the full schedule for their upcoming livestreams, with the next reading of The Taming of the Shrew streamed on Thursday 26 March, 7pm.
It’s all over Twitter right now that Shakespeare wrote King Lear while quarantined by the plague – if he carried on, we can too.
The Show Must Go Online readings are a fun, sociable way for actors and theatre makers to stay connected and creative during these unprecedented times, and also provide audiences with something that’s live, that’s raw, that feels spontaneous and exciting – replicating the theatre experience for those who need to self-isolate.
Do you wish to participate in or watch the readings?
(If you think you may wish to participate at any point, please select “participate”. We will use EventBrite to subscribe readers on a week-by-week basis, so this doesn’t ‘lock you in’ up front.) * CLICK HERE
RESOURCES
National Theatre
https://www.youtube.com/user/ntdiscovertheatre
Check Out BBC iPlayer for Dramas, Series,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Virtual Tours of Museums
https://www.southernliving.com/syndication/museums-with-virtual-tours
History & The Arts
Explore culture, conflict, and the things that make us human.
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/free-courses
On-screen
Watch our operas in cinemas around the country or for free online
https://www.glyndebourne.com/on-screen/
Encore Radio
SONGS AND NEWS FROM YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICALS
https://www.encoreradio.co.uk/
RSC
ONLINE PERFORMANCES
https://www.rsc.org.uk/education/teacher-resources/online-performances
https://www.youtube.com/user/theRSC
The story of theatre
The V&A’s Theatre and Performance collections chart the fascinating history of theatre in Britain from the middle ages to today. From early dramatic forms, such as mystery plays and court masques, to the alternative and ‘in yer face’ drama of the late 20th century, via the patriotic wartime entertainment of the 1940s, and the foundation of institutions such as the Arts Council and the National Theatre.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-story-of-theatre
Rent the latest releases, subscribe to classics and explore the best from the BFI, national and regional archives
https://player.bfi.org.uk/free
DisneyMusicVEVO
https://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyMusicVEVO
Magic at the Musicals
https://planetradio.co.uk/magic-at-the-musicals/player/
Channel 4 Culture
https://www.channel4.com/news/culture
ITV Entertainment
https://www.itv.com/hub/categories/entertainment
Creative England
https://www.creativeengland.co.uk/watch/
Ballet Videos
Watch Ballet Videos Online
https://ballethub.com/ballet-videos/
Creative England presents…
Whether through film, games, audio or events, we give a voice to great storytellers. Experience their latest work here.
http://www.filmedlivemusicals.com/
Artspod.net is a video-led theatre and live entertainment website primarily for regional venues. Lots of trailers, interviews & news, all in one place…
https://artspod.net/
Subscription
www.broadwayhd.com
Subscription
https://www.digitaltheatre.com/
What an amazing idea, well done to all for offering this opportunity!!!
This sounds brilliant.
My pals & are avid theatre-goers. We have tickets booked months ahead. Obvs, no one know how long this virus will ravage the country (the world). The threat to theatre is very great: actors, everyone involved in creating the magic. Thank you for offering this as an ‘amuse bouche’. We would subscribe to a broader scheme to get Our‘fix’ but more broadly, help to ensure the future of theatre.
Gigglemug Theatre’s award-winning Edinburgh Fringe hit ‘Timpson: The Musical’ is free to watch on YouTube in all its glory! Would you be able to add this to the list? Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/LfzOOWCi8Ag