sign in sign up
<<
Home , Deborah Findlay, Donmar Warehouse, Inua Ellams, Mark Gatiss, National Theatre Live, Young Vic

THE NATIONAL ANNOUNCES FURTHER PROGRAMMING FOR NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME Including productions broadcast from the NT, and

Thursday 7 May

Production images available to download HERE

The National Theatre has today announced further productions that will be streamed live on YouTube every Thursday at 7PM BST via the National Theatre’s YouTube channel as part of National Theatre at Home; the new initiative to bring content to the public in their homes during the Coronavirus outbreak. The titles announced today include productions from partner which were previously broadcast to cinemas by .

On 14 May the NT will stream the never-before-seen archive recording of Inua Ellams’ smash-hit play Barber Shop Chronicles, a co-production with Fuel and Leeds Playhouse. Captured at the National Theatre in January 2018 during its second sold-out run at the Dorfman theatre, the production went on to tour internationally including performances at BAM in New York with a return to ’s last Summer. The play tells the interwoven tales of black men from across the globe who, for generations, have gathered in barber shops where the banter can be barbed and the truth is always telling. Directed by Bijan Sheibani the cast includes Fisayo Akinade, Hammed Animashaun, Cyril Nri and Sule Rimi.

The 2014 NT Live broadcast of the Young Vic and Joshua Andrews co-production of the timeless masterpiece will be streamed on the 21 May. As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella for solace – but her downward spiral brings her face to face with the brutal, unforgiving Stanley Kowalski. The cast includes as Blanche, Ben Foster as Stanley and as Stella. The production, directed by , remains the fastest-selling production in Young Vic history.

The National Theatre production of This House by James Graham (Quiz, West End and ITV) will be streamed on 28 May. Filmed live in 2013, This House is a timely, moving and funny insight into the workings of British politics. It’s 1974, and Britain has a hung Parliament. The corridors of Westminster ring with the sound of infighting and backstabbing as the political parties battle to change the future of the nation. directs a cast including Phil Daniels, Reece Dinsdale, Charles Edwards and Vincent Franklin.

The Donmar Warehouse production of staged by former Artistic Director will be streamed on the 4 June. When an old adversary threatens Rome, the city calls once more on her hero and defender: Coriolanus. But he has enemies at home too. In one of the Donmar’s most popular ever productions, plays the title role in Shakespeare’s searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge. Cast also includes , and .

All productions will be free and screened live at 7.00PM BST and will then be available on demand for seven days.

The next National Theatre at Home Quiz will be available from 7pm on Monday 25 May, introduced by James Graham, and featuring , Jim Carter, Lucian Msamati, Meera Syal, Simon Callow, Tamsin Greig, and Jessie Buckley posing the questions on topics including Science and Nature, Literature and Theatre. The Quiz is available via the NT’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

National Theatre at Home launched in April in response to theatre and cinema closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Over the past month, five productions have been streamed for free via YouTube to an audience of 8 million. With the closure of theatres set to continue for some time, the future of the industry for artists and organisations remains uncertain. The National Theatre has, in agreement with Equity, committed to pay all artists and creatives involved with productions streamed as part of National Theatre at Home.

Lisa Burger, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive said – “’m delighted that in this next collection of titles to be streamed as part of National Theatre at Home we are including productions from our NT Live partner theatres. When we launched National Theatre at Home last month, we wanted to offer audiences the opportunity to engage with theatre during this time of isolation while we were unable to welcome them to the or into cinemas. This initiative wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a great number of artists for which we are incredibly grateful. We have been absolutely thrilled by the response from viewers enjoying the productions from right across the globe, and we have also been surprised and delighted at the generous donations we’ve received since closure. Whilst the National Theatre continues to face a precarious financial future, we now feel able to make a payment to all artists involved, as we recognise a great many are also experiencing a particularly challenging time at this moment. While theatres across the world remain closed, we're pleased that we can continue to bring the best of British theatre directly into people’s homes every Thursday evening.”

The National Theatre is currently closed to audiences and like theatres all around the world is facing a devastating impact from Coronavirus. NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME is free of charge but should viewers wish to make a donation to support the National Theatre, we have launched a public appeal on our home page: nationaltheatre.org.uk

Money donated via YouTube will be shared with the co-producing theatre organisations of each stream, including the Donmar Warehouse, Fuel, Leeds Playhouse and the Young Vic, helping to also support them through this period of closure and uncertainty.

For more information on NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME go to https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/at-home

++ ENDS ++ Notes to editors For further information please contact Ruth Greenwood on [email protected]

About The National Theatre The National Theatre’s mission is to make world class theatre that’s entertaining, challenging and inspiring – and to make it for everyone. It aims to reach the widest possible audience and to be as inclusive, diverse and national as possible with a broad range of productions that play in London, on tour around the UK, on Broadway and across the globe. The National Theatre's extensive UK-wide learning and participation programme supports young people and schools through performance and writing programmes like Connections, New Views and Let’s Play, while Public Acts creates ambitious new works of participatory theatre in sustained partnership with theatres and community organisations around the country. The National Theatre extends its reach through digital programmes including NT Live, which broadcasts some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 65 countries, and the National Theatre Collection, which makes recordings of shows available to UK schools and the global education sector. The National Theatre invests in the future of theatre by developing talent, creating bold new work and building audiences, partnering with a range of UK theatres and theatre companies. nationaltheatre.org.uk @nationaltheatre @NT_PressOffice

About National Theatre Live National Theatre Live turned ten on 25th June last year - the date of the first ever NT Live broadcast which was Phédre starring Academy Award® winner . Over ten years over 80 theatre productions have been shown in 3500 venues worldwide, reaching an overall audience of more than 10 million people. NT Live currently screens in 2500 venues across 65 countries. Recent broadcasts include Cyrano de Bergerac with James McAvoy, with , Fleabag with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, with Sally Field and Bill Pullman, with Gillian Anderson and , Antony & Cleopatra with Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo, with and Ben Whishaw, with . For more information on screenings and to sign up to the NT Live newsletter, go to http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk

Sky Arts is Headline Sponsor of NT Live in the UK.

About YouTube Launched in May 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch, and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube is a Google .

For more information, please contact Susan Cadrecha, Head of Comms, YouTube UK, [email protected]

Fuel Fuel leads the field in independent producing in the UK’s live performance sector. We work with brilliant artists to make fresh experiences for adventurous people. To date, many of these experiences have been theatre, whether that’s in an actual theatre, on the streets, in community settings, or in purpose-built structures. All of the artists Fuel works with produce shows, performances or experiences which have clear, direct and playful relationships with their audiences. They appeal to the emotions and the intellect. Things that make you laugh and cry. These artists see the world in a different way; they respond to challenges and difficulties with ingenuity and ideas; they create something unexpected which articulates something new to audiences. Fuel was founded in 2004 and is led by Kate McGrath. Fuel is supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, Fenton Arts Trust, the Garrick Trust, the Backstage Trust, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust through Sustaining Excellence. www.fueltheatre.com / @FuelTheatre

Leeds Playhouse Leeds Playhouse has been welcoming audiences for 50 years. It is a cultural hub, a space where people tell and share stories, and engage in world class theatre. The Playhouse, which is a registered charity (No. 255460), creates work which is pioneering and relevant, seeking out the best companies and artists to create inspirational theatre in the heart of Yorkshire. From large scale spectacles to intimate performance, the Playhouse develops and makes work for the stage, found spaces, touring, schools and community venues. Leeds Playhouse had recently undergone a £16 million transformation. The new building includes improved access to and around the theatre, a new city-facing entrance and the addition of a new studio theatre, the Bramall Rock Void. As dedicated , Leeds Playhouse works regularly with other organisations from across the UK, and some of the most distinctive and original voices in theatre today. Through their Artistic Development programme Furnace, they develop work with established practitioners and find, nurture and support new voices. They cultivate artists by providing creative space for writers, directors, companies and individual theatre- makers to refine their practice at any stage of their career. The Playhouse’s sector-leading Creative Engagement team works with over 10,000 people aged 0 - 95 every year through weekly workshops and creative projects using theatre to open up possibilities, reaching out to refugee communities, young people, students, older people and people with learning disabilities. The Playhouse is proud to celebrate 10 years of Relaxed Performances this year, pioneered at Leeds Playhouse and now adopted as standard practice in theatres worldwide. At the Playhouse there is a way for everyone to be involved. Artistic Director: James Brining Executive Director: Robin Hawkes Leeds Playhouse receives public subsidy from Arts Council England and Leeds City Council.

About the Young Vic Based on The Cut in London’s Waterloo, the Young Vic produces new plays, classics, musicals, adaptations of books, short films, digital projects and game-changing forms of theatre, attracting large audiences from many different backgrounds. They forge deep connections in their neighbourhood through their Taking Part programme, where they engage with over 15,000 people every year via a wide range of projects, from skills-based workshops to on-stage performances. The Young Vic’s Directors Program, the only scheme of its kind, has been running for nearly twenty years with support from the Genesis Foundation, and offers young directors a unique opportunity to develop their craft through skills workshops, peer-led projects, paid assistant directing roles. The Young Vic give 10% of their tickets free to schools and neighbours, irrespective of box office demand, and they are committed to keeping all ticket prices low. For many years, the Young Vic has been synonymous with inclusivity, accessibility and creativity. They catalyse debate and channel their work into the digital world, to reach new audiences and continue conversations outside of their four walls. The Young Vic foster emerging talent and collaborate with some of the world’s finest directors, performers and creatives; creating award-winning productions which engage with the world we live in. Artistic Director: Kwame Kwei-Armah Executive Director: Despina Tsatsas youngvic.org The Young Vic receives public subsidy from Arts Council England and & Borough Councils.

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit theatre in , led by Artistic Director and Executive Director Henny Finch. The Donmar has won more than 100 awards in its 27-year history, bringing together a wide variety of people within its intimate warehouse space and elsewhere to create, witness and participate in thrilling, world-class theatre. Through work on and offstage, the Donmar aims to create a more cohesive, functional and creative society by broadening horizons, inspiring empathy and offering outstanding entertainment. The Donmar develops new artists and future audiences through their renowned training programmes and Discover activity with schools and communities. The Donmar Warehouse believes that representation matters; diversity of identity, of perspective, of lived experience enriches our work and our lives. Welcome to important stories, thrillingly told, widely shared. www.donmarwarehouse.com | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube: @DonmarWarehouse