The National Theatre, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, has launched National Theatre at Home, a brand-new streaming platform making their much-loved productions available online to watch anytime, anywhere worldwide.
Launching with productions including the first ever National Theatre Live, Phèdre with Helen Mirren, Othello with Adrian Lester and the Young Vic’s Yerma with Billie Piper, new titles from the NT’s unrivalled catalogue of filmed theatre will be added to the platform every month. In addition to productions previously broadcast to cinemas by National Theatre Live, a selection of plays filmed for the NT’s Archive will be released online for the first time through National Theatre at Home, including Lucy Kirkwood’s Mosquitoes with Olivia Colman and Inua Ellams’ new version of Chekhov’s Three Sisters (a co-production with Fuel).
Viewers can choose a monthly or annual subscription to access the full catalogue and exclusive backstage content, or can opt to rent single plays for a 72-hour window. National Theatre at Home is available for streaming online through any web browser and in Apple, Google, Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV.
National Theatre at Home’s digital streaming offer was first made available during the UK’s first Covid lockdown when theatres and cinemas were closed. For 16 weeks from the beginning of April until the end of July, productions were made available for free on the National Theatre’s YouTube channel every Thursday at 7pm UK time, which were then available on demand for the following seven days. This resulted in over 15 million views for 16 productions over four months and reached 173 countries around the world.
Following this overwhelming response, the NT has launches a new, lasting and extensive iteration of National Theatre at Home, with the ambition of bringing world-class performances to a global audience. The platform will also provide welcome support for artists and theatres during this unpredictable time.
Lisa Burger, executive director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre, said: “We were overjoyed to have had 15 million views for National Theatre at Home earlier this year and to discover we had reached so many audiences new to theatre both in the UK and worldwide. At a time when many people were isolated at home, it was uplifting to see audiences recreate the shared experience of visiting the theatre. From homemade tickets to interval drinks, NT at Home was a way of making people feel more connected.
“Since the last stream finished in July, we have been determined to find a way to give our audiences access to these stunning filmed productions online once again. With the agreement from artists, we are now able to showcase an extraordinary range of fantastic NT Live productions and, for the first time, some treasured plays from our NT Archive.
“This is a really exciting day for the National Theatre as we launch a major, online streaming destination for our filmed theatre productions which we hope will continue to provide audiences with the power and joy of theatre for as long as it is needed. We want National Theatre at Home to once again bring people together from all over the world after what has been a very tough 2020 for so many.”
For unlimited access to the catalogue on National Theatre at Home, a subscription will be £9.98 per month or £99.98 per year. For access to a single play in a 72 hour window, it will be £5.99 for an NT Archive title and National Theatre Live titles are available from £7.99.
The National Theatre will collaborate with Bloomberg Philanthropies to deliver a programme of free subscriptions and discounts to viewers in the UK and globally.
National Theatre Live titles launching:
Amadeus
The 2016 National Theatre production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus which first appeared on the National Theatre stage in 1979 and was later turned into an Oscar-winning film. This iconic drama features Adam Gillen as Mozart with Lucian Msamati as Salieri. Michael Longhurst’s acclaimed production features live orchestral accompaniment by Southbank Sinfonia.
Coriolanus
The Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus staged by former artistic director Josie Rourke. Tom Hiddleston plays the title role alongside Alfred Enoch, Deborah Findlay and Mark Gatiss.
Medea
This exhilarating, modern adaptation of Medea was originally staged in the National Theatre’s Olivier in 2014. Helen McCrory plays the title role in Euripides’ powerful tragedy of heartbreak and revenge. The cast also includes Michaela Coel , Danny Sapani and Dominic Rowan in a version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell with music written by Will Gregory and Alison Goldfrapp.
Othello
Nicholas Hytner’s critically acclaimed 2013 Olivier theatre production of Othello with Adrian Lester in the title role and Rory Kinnear as the duplicitous Iago.
Phèdre
The very first National Theatre Live broadcast from the National Theatre’s Lyttelton theatre in 2009. Helen Mirren plays the title role in director Nicholas Hytner’s production of the classic Greek tragedy by Jean Racine, in a new version by Ted Hughes. Cast includes Dominic Cooper and Ruth Negga.
The Cherry Orchard
Zoë Wanamaker plays Ranyevskaya in Andrew Upton’s version of Chekhov’s classic play. Directed by Howard Davies, the cast also includes Conleth Hill, Charity Wakefield and Mark Bonnar.
Yerma
The Young Vic’s Olivier Award winning 2017 production of Lorca’s achingly powerful masterpiece Yerma with Billie Piper in the title role , directed by Simon Stone.
National Theatre Archive titles launching:
Dara
This 2015 celebrated production of Shahid Nadeem‘s epic tale of the dispute that shaped modern-day India and Pakistan is directed by Nadia Fall. Adapted by Tanya Ronder, the play’s cast includes Zubin Varla in the title role and Prasanna Puwanarajah.
I Want My Hat Back
The Olivier Award nominated 2015 musical adaptation of Jon Klassen’s best-selling children’s picture book classic, I Want My Hat Back, features music by Arthur Darvill with book and lyrics by Joel Horwood .
Mosquitoes
Olivia Colman and Olivia Williams play sisters in this critically acclaimed 2017 play by Lucy Kirkwood, directed by National Theatre director Rufus Norris.
Three Sisters
Chekhov’s iconic characters are relocated to Nigeria on the brink of the Biafran Civil War in this adaptation by Inua Ellams. Directed by Nadia Fall, the three sisters are played by Sarah Niles, Racheal Ofori and Natalie Simpson. Originally commissioned by Metta Theatre, it’s a production from the National Theatre and Fuel.
from News, Reviews and Features – My Theatre Mates https://ift.tt/3fUOeU0
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