The National Theatre adds Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Consent to streaming platform
The National Theatre has today announced that two new filmed productions have been added to its streaming service National Theatre at Home: the Young Vic’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the National Theatre and Out of Joint’s co-production Consent.
The Young Vic’s 2017 West End production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof was directed by Benedict Andrews (A Streetcar Named Desire) with Sienna Miller (21 Bridges, American Woman) as Maggie, Jack O’Connell (Unbroken, Trial by Fire) as Brick and Colm Meaney (Gangs of London) as Big Daddy. Tennessee Williams’ searing, poetic story of a family’s fight for survival is a twentieth century masterpiece.
Nina Raine’s play Consent premiered in the Dorfman theatre in 2017, a co-production between the National Theatre and Out of Joint. Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre, it transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre in 2018. The acclaimed production of this challenging and funny play features the original cast including Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, The Personal History of David Copperfield) and Daisy Haggard (Breeders, Back to Life).
Also announced today, as part of the NT’s partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies to broaden access to world-leading institutions and offerings is the National Theatre’s guide on the Bloomberg Connects app. The NT becomes the first performing arts organisation join the app which provides access to museums, galleries, and cultural spaces around the world anytime through digital guides, content from artists, curators, and experts. Launching today, the National Theatre’s guide on the app includes exclusive content including introductions from NT Joint Chief Executives Rufus Norris and Lisa Burger, interviews with NT Associates, an interview with Romeo & Juliet film adapter and associate director Emily Burns, That Black Theatre podcast episodes and a new, exclusive ‘backstage tour’ of the National Theatre, showcasing the historic building and recreating the in-person backstage tours. The app is available to download for free on the Apple Store or Google Play.
Lisa Burger, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre, said: “We’ve been thrilled with the audience response from around the world to the first three months of National Theatre at Home. This month sees two more fantastic productions on the NT’s streaming platform – shows that sold out in the West End and the NT – and it’s wonderful to be able to provide these on demand. We’re also very pleased to be launching our guide on the Bloomberg Connects app, as part of our partnership with Bloomberg as supporters of National Theatre at Home. For the NT, it’s essential that access to arts and culture is as widely available as we can make it and never more so than during this period of lockdown and closure. This free app gives audiences exclusive content and insight to a range of international arts organisations and it’s brilliant that the National Theatre is featured as well. The virtual backstage tour is very exciting. We so wish we could welcome audiences back into our building and this helps to make that possible, even if only digitally for now.”
Jemma Read, Global Head of Corporate Philanthropy at Bloomberg LP said, “At Bloomberg Philanthropies, we’re harnessing the power of the arts to improve the quality of life in cities across the globe. We’re proud of the impact that we’ve made through our partnership with the National Theatre to date and we’re excited to build on this foundation. As the first performing arts organisation to join the app, National Theatre on Bloomberg Connects will deepen audience engagement and will enable communities everywhere – regardless of social or geographical circumstances – to enjoy world class theatre.”
National Theatre at Home now has 18 productions to stream on the platform available at any time, including Angels in America Parts One and Two with Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane and Russell Tovey, Medea with Helen McCrory and Michaela Coel, Mosquitoes with Olivia Colman and Olivia Williams, Phèdre with Helen Mirren and Dominic Cooper, the Young Vic’s Yerma with Billie Piper and Othello with Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear.
All productions on National Theatre at Home are available with captions. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will also be available with audio-description to support blind and partially sighted audiences worldwide. Eight other National Theatre at Home titles are currently available with audio-description: Angels in America Parts One and Two, Othello, Donmar Warehouse’s Coriolanus, The Cherry Orchard, Amadeus, Julie, Phèdre and the Young Vic’s Yerma.
National Theatre at Home is available now at ntathome.com, with single titles available from £5.99 – £8.99, a monthly subscription for £9.99 or a yearly subscription for £99.99.
Dame Judi Dench praises Theatre Support Fund + for raising an outstanding £800,000 for charities
Renowned theatre, film, and TV actress Dame Judi Dench has praised the creators of ‘The Show Must Go On!’ merchandise, the Theatre Support Fund+ for raising £800,000 for charities Acting For Others, The Fleabag Support Fund and NHS COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.
16 March 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of theatres closing across the U.K and despite the recent budget news from the government, there are still many freelancers who have not been able to claim any support with many now being out of work for a year. Theatre Support Fund+ will continue raising funds for those who have been affected by the pandemic until the theatres finally reopen and workers can return to their full-time jobs.
Dame Judi Dench said today, ‘I have been devastated by the effects the pandemic has had on the theatre industry but I am also proud of what we have achieved by standing together through these times. Chris and Damien at the Theatre Support Fund+ have done such profound work by raising this incredible amount of monies and have been able to help thousands of freelancers. There are still many workers who need our support and I am delighted to be able to support their campaign. I wish them all the best in their continued journey to help freelancers until our theatres can open again, The Show Must Go On!’
Theatre Support Fund+ are also the creators of The Show Must Go On! Live at The Palace Theatre which has been rescheduled to 2 – 6 June 2021. More information and casting to be announced soon.
Chris and Damien said today, ‘We cannot wait to bring this very special concert to the stage which will be a true celebration of the West End. We’re currently working hard with all of the shows involved to finalise plans and very soon we’ll be able to share with you all the exciting details about the show. We look forward to welcoming you to the Palace Theatre in June and thank you for your continued support’.
In addition to Dame Judi other notable names which have supported the campaign include;
President of the Fleabag Support Fund+ Phoebe Waller Bridge, Michael Ball, Christopher Biggins, Samantha Bond, Todrick Hall, Amanda Holden, Sir Derek Jacobi Lesley Joseph, Myleene Klass, Keira Knightley, Beverley Knight, Bonnie Langford, Patti LuPone, Sarah Parish, Melanie Sykes and Marisha Wallace.
Theatre Support Fund+ was set up by theatre industry workers Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton to help those who have been affected by the pandemic. In 11 months the team have taken over 70,000 orders and the £800,000 raised has helped thousands of workers who have had no or limited work since theatres shut a year ago. ‘The Show Must Go On!’ design is an amalgamation of the 16 biggest West End Musicals and has been recognised internationally with orders been sent to 73 different countries across the globe.
Shows included on the design are & Juliet, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Everybody’s Talking about Jamie, Hamilton, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Matilda The Musical, Six The Musical, Tina, The Tina Turner Musical, The Book of Mormon, The Prince of Egypt, Disney’s The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked.
All merchandise can be found at www.theatresupportfund.co.uk
Frozen The Musical to open in August
The wait is almost over musical fans! Frozen The Musical today announced that the brand new (and much anticipated!) production will be opening at the newly refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 27 August. What a way to celebrate Summer!
Based on the globe-conquering 2013 film of the same name – which became the highest grossing animated film of all time – Frozen The Musical is directed by Michael Grandage, and opened on Broadway in March 2018. It was subsequently nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical.
We can’t wait for it to grace the West End but in the meantime check out this 2-part exclusive behind the scenes videos that we’re certain will convince you to book (as if you needed a reason!)
Hosted by Olaf and Kristoff, Craig Gallivan and Obioma Uguoala will take you on a journey of how the production transformed from screen to stage, ahead of its long-awaited arrival in London’s West End later this yea
In part two, you’ll get to know Elsa and Anna as Samantha Barks and Stephanie McKeon get speedy with quick-fire questions! You’ll also get to meet the West End Sven’s and see a sneak peek of that world-renowned blue dress before it arrives in London’s West End later this year. Don’t forget to