From Thursday 2nd April 2020 a number of productions previously screened in cinemas globally as a part of National Theatre Live, will be made available to watch for free.
The first will be Richard Bean’s One Man Two Guvnors featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden. All the productions will be free and screened live every Thursday at 7.00pm GMT UK time and will then be available on demand for just seven days on the NT Live’s YouTube channel.
On 9th April 2020 there will be a streamed performance of Sally Cookson’s Jane Eyre, Bryony Lavery’s Treasure Island adaptation starring Arthur Darvill on 16th April 2020 and Twelfth Night with Tamsin Greig on 23rd April 2020. Further tiles are to be announced.
Lisa Burger said: “Our ambition at the NATIONAL THEATR E is to create work which is challenging, entertaining and inspiring and we are committed to continuing that through these difficult times. I am thrilled that we are able to fulfil this ambition in a different way through our collaboration with YouTube.
I am exceptionally proud of the team at the National Theatre for working so hard to create NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME and also to the rights holders who have been so supportive of this new initiative allowing us to bring theatre to households right across the world.
“We have delved into the National Theatre Live archive and curated a programme that is varied from comedy to new dramas to classics so there is something for everyone to enjoy from their own homes. We will be streaming each production at the same time each week in order to recreate, where possible, the communal viewing experience and we hope this will be an opportunity for people to share their enjoyment together online.”
In partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing, the theatre has also made the pre-existing National Theatre Collection available at home for free, to pupils and teachers at state schools and state-funded further education colleges. There are 24 productions currently available.
http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/ntlout99-national-theatre-at-home
Featured image – James Corden in ‘One Man, Two Guvnors. Pic Johan Persson