A Splinter of Ice is a ‘tell, not show’ play but it is engrossing from the first moment, and the characters feel completely believeable with their moments of resigned boredom, creaks of ageing, and acceptance of the card fate dealt them.
‘Displays a lot of good ideas’: GENERAL SECRETARY – Applecart Arts
Applecart Arts’ General Secretary is a two-hander written and performed by two undoubtedly intelligent performers, Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas, also known as Thick ‘n’ Fast. Their ideas are scattergun in their approach but their attention to detail is strong.
‘Feels very much of the here & now’: IN PLAIN SIGHT – Different Theatre (Online review)
In Plain Sight is a surreal piece which toys with the expectations of both a digital ‘theatre’ piece and the historical characters it depicts.
‘Uneasy watch, but a necessary one’: THE LESSON (Online review)
At slightly under 40 minutes, The Lesson has moments which are both hilarious and educational, as well as making the audience think about the truly shocking messages being discussed.
‘Colourful & bright tale’: JABALA & THE JINN – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (Online review)
Jabala & The Jinn is a piece of drama which explores complex themes on growing up, honesty, and friendship.
‘The music is magical & the visuals impressive’: DREAM – Royal Shakespeare Company (Online review)
Dream, using motion capture of actors, animation, music and some audience interaction, is not an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but is inspired by the forest presented within it. It was originally planned as live experience by the Royal Shakespeare Company, but has now moved to online.
‘Never flags in its delivery or pace’: WHERE THE BUGABOO LIVES – Little Angel Theatre (Online review)
Where The Bugaboo Lives is the Little Angel’s first Zoom production, performed live. It joins the productions which have been available for free on their YouTube channel during theatre closure.
‘The music is absolutely beautiful’: LOVE IN THE LOCKDOWN (Online review)
A web series from medieval music group The Telling, written and produced by their artistic director Clare Norburn; the third episode of Love in the Lockdown will land on YouTube on 23 March 2021.
‘A significant achievement of this third lockdown’: Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels – Finborough Theatre (Online review)
When we left 1 and A in Episode 14 of Athena Stevens’ Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels they were both in some kind of moral and emotional jeopardy, and it seemed appropriate on International Women’s Day to return to this nuanced and considered exploration of female agency, solidarity and behaviour.
‘Pulling back the layers’: BIRDS & BEES – Theatre Centre (Online review)
A production of the Theatre Centre, in association with Soho Theatre, Birds and Bees is an important new dramatic addition to the discussion around sexting, consent, and “revenge porn”.
‘A light touch & a dose of laughter’: FABLES AT THE KITCHEN TABLE – Stute Theatre (Online review)
Soph is a storyteller, sharing tales from Aesop’s Fables to a virtual audience of school groups on Zoom. Fables at the Kitchen Table is the latest show from Stute Theatre, aimed at children aged 3-7, and it is tremendous fun.
‘Intriguing piece’: 24, 23, 22 – Chronic Insanity (Online review)
24, 23, 22, the latest production from theatre whizzes Chronic Insanity runs about 48 minutes, and is viewed across two devices (computer and phone).
’An innovative take on the now commonplace online concert’: THE SECRET SOCIETY OF LEADING LADIES – Barn Theatre (Online review)
The Secret Society of Leading Ladies is the brainchild of Ryan Carter and puts the viewer in control of a concert which sees five selected leading ladies brought together (digitally) under mysterious circumstances.
‘Beautifully written & engagingly performed’: ALL ON HER OWN – stream.theatre (Online review)
All On Her Own is an unusual monologue which holds the attention throughout; although perhaps the borderline hysterics of the original version are ultimately truer to the play as written.
‘Amusing look at love in lockdown’: VALENTINE’S SKETCH SHOW – Northern Comedy Theatre (Online review)
The material in Valentine’s Sketch Show feels a little rough at times, but when things click and the company runs with it, you do have a giggle.
However, Northern Comedy Theatre (based in Merseyside) have followed an amazing run of digita…
‘A quirky addition to the ‘shows at home’ space’: MANIMALS (Online review)
Michelle Hudson’s love life is the anchor on which this “NSFW” Zoom show and online app is tethered. Manimals is an interactive show/online game presented as a workshop launch for a new dating app. Michelle, a gaming designer, has mixed her professional and personal preoccupations here for immersive entertainment.
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…
‘We should listen & we should be angry’: TAKE CARE – Living Record Festival (Online review)
With the current pandemic crisis facing the NHS, it is timely for Écoute Theatre to revive Take Care, its verbatim piece on informal carers and social care funding.
‘It does & should make a viewer think’: We Ask These Questions of Everybody – soundfestival (Online review)
Produced by HERA, We Ask These Questions of Everybody uses text drawn from real conversations; samples, soundscapes and singing. It is performed by a cross-genre, all-disabled ensemble, placing into sharp focus their experience of living under austerity.
‘Some scenes are all-out hilarious’: I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE – Lambert Jackson Productions (Online review)
The latest digital show from Lambert Jackson Productions and the London Coliseum is the Off-Broadway hit, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.