Yes, Covid has changed all of our lives — probably forever. At the very least, we will never take the freedoms we used to have – to travel, to meet friends, to socialise in public spaces and gather indoors to watch live performances and other events – ever again.
‘Inventive & thoughtful’: IDENTITY – CTC Dance Company (Online review) ★★★★
Inventive and thoughtful dance piece Identity explores what we see if we take our ‘masks’ off and allows ourselves to be us and not what society expects.
‘The clouds will clear one day’: Offie-nominated performer Beaux Harris on how she has kept creative during lockdown
Despite Coronavirus, 25-year-old award-nominated actor Beaux Harris continues to dance her way through lockdown and is encouraging others to keep going through her Instagram page and online dance classes, suitable for all age groups.
From online festivals to streaming platforms, here’s a digital theatre catch-up to lift your spirits
Welcome to our first 2021 round-up of digital shows available for you to watch in the next few weeks.
From large-scale musicals to Zoom experiences, student showcases to the Bard, film and comedy, children’s theatre to audio pieces, storytelling to…
‘A delight to watch from start to finish’: NUTCRACKER DELIGHTS – English National Ballet (Online review) ★★★★★
Having had its run of live performances cut short, thank goodness the English National Ballet recorded Nutcracker Delights, this gorgeous scaled back treat for audiences to enjoy at home.
‘Transporting us by engaging the heart, mind & soul’: How theatre-makers adapted in 2020
Here are Shane Morgan’s picks of how 2020 in theatre has continued to do what it does best: transporting us by engaging the heart, mind and soul.
‘Will put a warm glow in your heart’: THE NUTCRACKER – Birmingham Royal Ballet (Online review)
Integral to the festive Birmingham experience, the chance to watch this delightful production of The Nutcracker from home is a rare silver lining in an otherwise troubled month for the performing arts.
NEWS: New Adventures & the Royal Albert Hall announce Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man
As part of the Royal Albert Hall’s 150th anniversary celebrations New Adventures and the Royal Albert Hall have announced that Matthew Bourne’s multi-award-winning dance thriller The Car Man will play 14 performances only at the venue from 17-27 June 2021. Casting to be announced soon. These will be the only performances of the show in the UK in 2021.
NEWS: Immersive audio experience We step outside and start to dance by Alison Carr is now available
We step outside and start to dance is a new immersive audio experience – now available – written by award-winning North East playwright Alison Carr.
NEWS: Three prizes each for & Juliet, Dear Evan Hansen & Emilia as Olivier Awards 2020 winners are announced
The winners of the Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard were announced in a special ITV programme filmed at The London Palladium, and on Official London Theatre’s YouTube channel.
‘A flawless piece of work’: WAIT FOR ME (Online review) ★★★★★
Dance musical Wait for Me beautifully captures life as seen through the eyes of one couple and the angels who bring them together.
‘A feast for the eyes & ears’: WAIT FOR ME (Online review)
Without pieces of art like Wait For Me – and this mixes music, theatre, ballet, cinema, storytelling and production – the world would be a far lonelier place.
NEWS: The Olivier Awards 2020 winners will be announced in an October TV special filmed at the London Palladium
The winners of this year’s Oliver Awards 2020 with Mastercard will be announced on 25 October 2020 in a special programme hosted by Jason Manford and broadcast on ITV and Magic Radio.
NEWS: The Black British Theatre Awards reveal 2020 nominees & announce the ceremony will be broadcast on Sky Arts
The BBTAs have revealed the 2020 Black British Theatre Awards nominee list, voted almost entirely by the public and representing some of the finest work by Black performers and creatives in UK theatre. The 2020 awards ceremony will air on Sky Arts this autumn, as part of the channel’s free to air line-up.
NEWS: Creative partnership between Birmingham Royal Ballet & Birmingham Repertory Theatre announced
A brand new partnership has been confirmed between Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre, which will see the two established companies combine creative ingenuity to stage new dance works in the heart of Birmingham city centre.
‘A sheer spectacle with plenty of energy & passion’: CELTIC TIGER – The Shows Must Go On! (Online review)
This 2005 production of Celtic Tiger directed, produced and choreographed by Michael Flatley has some interesting concepts – but put together comes across as an incoherent show.
NEWS: Royal Ballet School, ArtsEd, LAMDA & the Royal Academy of Dance receive Lynne and Land Foundation grants
Today, on the second anniversary of the death of choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne, The Lynne and Land Foundation has announced grants to the Royal Ballet School, ArtsEd, LAMDA and the Royal Academy of Dance.
‘Strips back perceptions of what theatre should be’: ENTITLED – Quarantine (Online review)
Up to Manchester for this Zoom screening of 2011’s mix of movement and words from Quarantine, followed by a discussion with the creatives.
Entitled is “a show about nothing” on the surface, as we watch stage technicians set up for a dance performanc…
Lockdown has made me realise, as much as theatre, I’ve been missing live music
It feels slightly odd that my final show before the curtains came down wasn’t a play or musical – instead, it was a dance show.
‘I have never before truly appreciated the blinding power of physical theatre’: THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE – Gecko Theatre (Online review)
If you, like me at the moment, feel you are missing out on some of the familiar repetitiveness of life, this is thirty minutes you need to watch.