Video animation by Niv Petel
Dear Readers
In this difficult time for both performers and theatre-lovers, many producers and theatres are making great performances from past seasons available online.
I wanted to bring together some of those links, so that you can find inspiration and entertainment at home.
I’ll be adding to this list as more links come to my attention, so please check back regularly.
Sending you all my warmest wishes. Stay home, and stay safe!
Here are links to FREE streamed performances during COVID-19 lockdown:
Drama, Musicals, Opera, Ballet and Children’s Theatre
Australian Theatre Live will stream three performances for free through its Facebook page. On April 10 & 11, the comedy The Dapto Chaser, by award-winning playwright Mary Rachel Brown, will be streamed. Content begins streaming at 8pm AEDT*
BBC FILM – It’s True, It’s True, It’s True
Cameri Theatre (Israel) – Hamlet (2005) המלט
Cameri Theatre – סיפור משפחתי – מאת עדנה מזיא
Gesher Theatre (Israel) תיאטרון גשר
National Theatre – Every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. U.K. time, the National Theatre will broadcast one of its shows live via YouTube;
Donmar Warehouse presents a Donmar Online Production starring Diana Quick, directed by Artistic Director Michael Longhurst
MIDNIGHT YOUR TIME by Adam Brace
At 7.30 pm 13 May 2020, and then available for 7 days.
Shakespeare’s Globe – Hamlet (2018)
The State Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan – Worlds in Collision by Iddo Netanyahu (in Russian with English subtitles). A clash of minds between the world-famous Albert Einstein and the scientific heretic Immanuel Velikovsky. This production was reviewed by Noa Goren
Royal Opera House (Royal Ballet)
Anastasia (until 28 May 2020)
Kenneth MacMillan created a one-act ballet Anastasia for Deutsche Oper Ballet in 1967. He was inspired by the true story of Anna Anderson, a woman who believed herself to be Anastasia, youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and the only survivor from the assassination of the Romanovs in 1918. Leaving the audience to decide the legitimacy of Anna’s claims, MacMillan created a haunting, expressionist work to Martinů’s Sixth Symphony, in which Anna is visited by confused nightmares of her life from the time of the massacre to her discovery in Berlin in 1920.
07 June until 5.00pm on 14 June Mozart’s Così fan tutte
Available until 5.00pm on 7 June. Mozart’s Don Giovanni
La Monnaie Brussels
Bayerische Staatsoper
Teatro Colon Buenos Aires
Deutschen Oper Berlin – Don Giovanni (1961 production)
Staatsoper unter den Linden Berlin
Komische Oper Berlin
Garsington Opera Mozart’s Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro)
Opera De Paris
Dutch National Opera
Metropolitan opera – nightly streaming
San Francisco Opera
Los Angeles Opera
Teatro dell’Opera Roma
La Fenice Opera House
La Scala
OperaVision – performances include Cosi fan tutti April 10, and I due Foscari April 14 (heck link for times).
Opernhaus Zürich (Check Opera House for a detailed programme)
Royal Opera House
Wiener Staatsoper
*Andrew Lloyd Webber will begin streaming his musicals on YouTube for free. Performances go up at 7pm U.K. time and will be available for 48 hours. On May 15, watch Cats.
*Pippin – the original cast including Ben Vereen, William Katt, Martha Raye, and Chita Rivera, free on-demand via TubiTV.
Three Rivers Children’s Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast JR
Children’s Theatre Company: Alice in Wonderland (1982)
The Hundred Dresses,
“Lucille, Camille, Chenille” from Junie B. Jones the Musical and more
Argentina – Teatro El Grito:
- El hombre que perdio su sombra(already online)
- Habia una vez una bruja…(streaming April 14)
France – Comedy Francaise: Shows will appear on this homepage at scheduled times
Israel – Treasure Island (in Hebrew) אי המטמון
UK – The Wind in the Willows is streaming free on demand for UK patrons only.
Nitzan’s “Knick Knack Nook”RSC – edited version of King Lear intended for younger audiences:
Unicorn Theatre production – Girls Like That recommendation – age 13+
Deutsche Oper Berlin : 11.4.20-19.4.20 Die Schneekönigin
Bayerische Staatsoper München : Children’s program
Wiener Staatsoper : 26.4.20 Hänsel und Gretel (Availabe for 24h)
Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden : Children’s program (18.04.20)
Landestheater Linz : Märchen und kurze Erzählungen
The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Frozen, and a selection of Careers in Theatres videos and podcasts.
Royal Opera House –
Deutsche Oper Berlin : 11.4.20-19.4.20 Die Schneekönigin
Bayerische Staatsoper München : Children’s program
Wiener Staatsoper : 26.4.20 Hänsel und Gretel (Availabe for 24h)
Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden : Children’s program (18.04.20)
Landestheater Linz : Märchen und kurze Erzählungen
Additional content will include the 2019 adaptation of opera ‘Boris Godunov’, with Mikhail Kazakov, on Tuesday, April 7. Each performance starts at 7 pm Moscow time (noon ET, 5 pm BST, 2 am AEST) and will remain on the theatre’s YouTube channel for 24 hours.