THE lights may have gone out in the theatres during this coronavirus pandemic, but thanks to technology, theatre companies, performers and writers are putting their work online. Here's a run-down of some of the performing arts you can watch and listen to:
:: The Original Theatre Company production of Ali Milles’ play The Croft, which was touring the is available to view on the company’s website. Their touring production of Alan Bennett’s The Habit of Art starring Matthew Kelly will also be available to download on Originaltheatreonline.com
:: National Theatre Live will be sharing recordings of stage shows which have previously been screened in cinemas on their YouTube channel every Thursday at 7pm. They will then be available to view for seven days. One Man Two Guvnors, starring James Corden, on April 2; Sally Cookson’s stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre on April 9; Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island on April 16 and Twelfth Night, starring Tamsin Greig on April 23.
:: The Royal Court Theatre and Abbey Theatre’s production of David Ireland’s play Cyprus Avenue, which mixes stage performance with on-location footage in Belfast, is available free to view on the Royal Court’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
:: Marquee.tv, a newly launched streaming service that provides access to the world’s best performances in opera, drama and theatre, is offering a 30-day free trial. Productions available to watch include The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Richard II starring David Tennant, The Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the Bolshoi Ballet’s Swan Lake.
:: Broadway HD is another streaming service, which gives viewers a free seven-day trial. It features West End and Broadway performances including Kinky Boots, 42nd Street, Cats and The Sound of Music (Broadwayhd.com)
:: The Verbal Arts Centre in Derry has launched Well Read, a chatbot-based website to help build the emotional wellbeing of children aged 8-11, through conversation and storytelling (mywellread.com/)
:: Irish songwriters Matt McGinn and Cormac Neeson host a virtual 'In The Round' from the homes of musicians from all over the world as they perform one by one in real time. Join in and listen back to previous sessions at facebook.com/groups/cocoons/
:: Co Antrim singer-songwriter Amanda St John performs live from her home on Facebook every Sunday evening from 8-9pm; facebook.com/amanda.stjohn.79
:: Children’s author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers, reads live each weekday at 6pm on his Instagram page. Each live reading is available for 24 hours after first broadcast and then on his website a few hours later. Visit instagram.com/oliverjeffers/ and oliverjeffers.com
:: A live recording of Julian Fellowes’ The Wind in the Willows the Musical starring Rufus Hound and recorded live at the London Palladium is available at Willowsmusical.com, together with an accompanying kids activity pack.
