This January and February, stream.theatre presents over fifteen unmissable events to keep people entertained, many of which are receiving their streaming premieres.
The season celebrates brilliant drama, starting with two plays exploring American politics: John Moore’s Waiting for Obama, and the celebrated production of Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade.
Critically acclaimed productions of Little Wars and Philip Ridley’s The Poltergeist bring more drama to the platform, before Janie Dee stars in an exclusive rare revival of Terence Rattigan’s All On Her Own.
There’s plenty for musical fans too, with hotly anticipated new musical The Sorcerer’s Apprentice making its world premiere on stream.theatre in February.
Later, two outstanding foreign language musicals also make their UK streaming debuts: Seoul’s Sejong Center hugely popular production of Frank Wildhorn’s Xcalibur and Moscow Peretta Theatre’s breathtaking production of Anna Karenina.
Online venue stream.theatre offers a digital stage for Arts organisation, producers, and artists to record, stream and host a wide variety of new pay-per-view streaming content. Visit www.stream.theatre for full information.
LISTINGS:
Potted Panto (continues until 24 January)
7 classic pantomimes in 70 hilarious minutes! Double Olivier nominees Dan and Jeff return for a tenth anniversary festive season of Potted Panto, hot on the heels of their world tour and Las Vegas residency of Harry Potter parody Potted Potter. In a madcap ride through the biggest stories and best-loved characters from the wonderful world of pantomime, our dastardly double act dash from rubbing Aladdin’s lamp to roaming the golden streets of Dick Whittington’s London and making sure that Cinderella gets to the Ball. It’s all unmissable fun, whether you’re six or 106. This exclusive streamed version of the show was captured with a live audience at the Garrick Theatre during the show’s tenth anniversary West End season in 2020. Viewer age advice, ages 6+.
Run Time : 70 minutes (approx)
Ticket Price : £15.00 plus £3.00 transaction fee
Waiting for Obama (until 17 January)
The year is 2016. A Colorado Springs family is convinced that President Barack Obama is coming for their guns. And they’re right.
John Moore’s critically acclaimed “Waiting for Obama” was an official selection of the New York International Fringe Festival.
The cast recently gathered to create a new radio-play version, videotaped exclusively for stream.theatre. Written by John Moore.
Untapped (10, 17, 24, 31 January)
“Untapped” celebrates Musical Theatre Graduates from the past 10 graduating years, learn about each performers individual experience of working in the theatre industry and watch them perform with a superb 3 piece band. Untapped presents four different performance dates & four different casts, and each evening is hosted by Christopher Howell. This performance features Chris Howell, Muirgen O’Mahony, Helen Gulston, Ben Barrow, Amelia Walker, Karen Wilkinson, Adam Colbeck-Dunn, Laurie Evans, Bella Bowen, Kyle Birch, Shannon Herbert, Sinead O’Callaghan. This event’s run time is 90 minutes.
Roles We’ll Never Play – West End (15 – 17 January 2021)
Following on from two successful years of concerts in London, Tom Duern presents Roles We’ll Never Play, recorded live during its sell out run at the Apollo Theatre, in the heart of London’s West End in December 2020.
Now is your chance to see this critically acclaimed production from the comfort of your own home!
Roles We’ll Never Play will see performers singing songs outside of their casting brackets for one night only… There are NO limits! Featuring an exceptional cast of over 25 performers and a live band, expect big performances and show stopping vocals.
The concert is directed by Sasha Regan with Musical Direction by Flynn Sturgeon and hosted by Carl Mullaney. The concert is produced by Tom Duern.
Please note, the show contains some strong language.
Run Time : 2hr 30min (including a 20 minute interval)
Ticket Price : £15.00 plus £3.00 transaction fee
Kennedy – Bobby’s Last Crusade (18 – 24 January 2021)
This solo play portrays Kennedy during his short, electrifying run for President in 1968. Follow Bobby from his announcement to enter the race to his last speech at the Ambassador Hotel. The play combines many of his famous speeches, as well as his private apprehensions and some of the more personal moments of his exhilarating campaign.
The Poltergeist (25 – 31 January, then on Demand in February)
From master storyteller Philip Ridley comes the four star OnComm Award Winning play The Poltergeist. ‘Art’s my hobby too.’ Hobby?! Sasha was destined to take the art world by storm. At the age of fifteen pop stars wanted his paintings, and a new exhibition was going to make him a millionaire. But now he lives in a run-down flat with his out-of-work boyfriend, serves in a stationers, and no one’s even heard of him… what went wrong? Philip Ridley’s darkly comic new play is about art, family, memory, and being haunted by the life we never lived. Please not this event features Strong Language, Use of Prescription Drugs and Themes of an Adult Nature. This event’s run time is 75 minutes.
One of the greatest living British writers, Philip Ridley’s previous plays include The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Radiant Vermin, The Pitchfork Disney, Tender Napalm, Dark Vanilla Jungle, and Mercury Fur, as well as the screenplay for the 1990 film The Krays. With four stars: “Rare and unmissable. Will be talked about for years.” – Theatre Weekly “Tightly wound, highly disciplined and unashamedly relentless.” – Broadway World. “Ridley and Tramp’s fast-paced and moving production, has done something truly remarkable.” – OX Magazine. “Compelling, absorbing, vital, frantic, unmissable.” – Everything Theatre.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (26 February – 14 March 2021)
This enchanting new British musical explores the extraordinary world of a sorcerer and his rebellious daughter, as she discovers the explosive possibilities of her newfound magical powers.
Against the backdrop of the Northern Lights, a small town has been pushed to the brink of collapse in a bid for progress and prosperity. To rescue Midgard from certain destruction, father and daughter must heal their relationship and work together. This gripping family-friendly story sees brooms coming to life and love blossoming anew.
Acclaimed musical theatre writers Richard Hough and Ben Morales Frost have created this gender-swapped twist on the timeless poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which also inspired the Dukas symphony that memorably featured in the Disney film Fantasia.
Directed by Charlotte Westenra (The Wicker Husband, Watermill), the cast of ten includes Dawn Hope (Follies, National Theatre), David Thaxton (Olivier Award for Passion, Donmar Warehouse) and the professional debut of London School of Musical Theatre graduate Mary Moore in the title role.
This production was filmed at Southwark Playhouse in January 2021 and is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
Run Time : 2 Hours plus an interval (approx)
Ticket Price : £15.00 plus £3.00 transaction fee
The Last Five Years (29 – 31 January)
Filmed at the Southwark Playhouse in November 2020.
Jason Robert Brown’s Drama Desk Award winning musical, The Last Five Years, is an emotionally powerful and intimate show about two New Yorkers who fall in and out of love over the course of five years.
The musical’s unconventional structure unfolds as Cathy tells her story in reverse, from the end of their turbulent relationship, whilst Jamie tells his story chronologically from the spark of their initial meeting. The two characters meet only once, at their wedding in the middle of the show.
Now, this iconic musical returns to London in a bold new actor-musician production with the actors on stage at all times and playing the piano to add a new narrative dimension to the story, accompanied by a four piece band.
Little Wars (1 – 14 January 2021)
Featuring critically-acclaimed performances from Linda Bassett and Juliet Stevenson, the compelling production of Little Wars brought together an incredible all-star female cast, including Debbie Chazen, Natasha Karp, Catherine Russell, Sarah Solemani and Sophie Thompson, directed by Hannah Chissick. The streaming raised over £7,500 for Women For Refugee Women during its initial run. This incredible charity continues to support women in need during this difficult time.
Little Wars unites literary figureheads Gertrude Stein (Bassett), her girlfriend Alice Toklas (Russell), Dorothy Parker (Chazen), Lillian Hellman (Stevenson) and Agatha Christie (Thompson), with anti-fascist freedom fighter Muriel Gardiner (Solemani), in this deliciously comic and touching drama about the power of coming together for a shared cause. Tensions are high and secrecy lingers in the air, but with libations flowing and the threat of World War II looming the guests are close to boiling point. This event’s run time is 120 minutes. Little Wars is produced by Thomas Hopkins & Michael Quinn for Ginger Quiff Media in association with Bailey Harris-Kelly and Guy Chapman.
RUN TIME: Approx 120 minutes.
Falling Stars (1 – 14 February)
Peter Polycarpou (Man of La Mancha, London Coliseum; City of Angels; Donmar Warehouse; Birds of a Feather) and Sally Ann Triplett’s (Finding Neverland, Broadway; Viva Forever, Piccadilly Theatre; EastEnders) Following the impending cancellation of live performances, the company quickly came together to create a filmed adaptation, providing audiences with an unmissable opportunity to experience the 1920s revelry from their own home during lockdown. With theatres forced to close their doors, Ginger Quiff are aiming to make the theatrical experience accessible for all. Falling Stars is the charming story of a lost songbook; hidden away in an antique shop on the East Finchley High Road, its discovery unlocks the beautiful refrains of a bygone era. This event’s run time 60 minutes.
Conceived and written by Polycarpou, the song cycle is an homage to the composers, collaborators, and publishers of the 1920s, who created some of the greatest music of all time. This musical revue captures the spirit of the age as Polycarpou and Triplett serenade audiences with the music of Charlie Chaplin, Irving Berlin, Buddy De-Silva, Ray Henderson, Vincent Youmans, Carl Schraubstader, Arthur Freed, and Meredith Wilson. Directed by Michael Strassen (Godspell 50th Anniversary concert; Billy; Assassins),
Wolverhampton Literature Festival (12 – 14 February then on demand)
Wolverhampton Literature Festival returns for its fifth year in February 2021. Hosted by City of Wolverhampton Council the festival aims to amplify the voice of authors, poets, writers, storytellers, puppeteers, podcasters, vloggers, publishers across the UK. Celebrating our creative communities living and from the Black Country and further!
Over a three-day period, taking place on the 12-14 of February, the programme of events features a variety of entertainment, which consist of talks, performances, readings, and practical workshops. It provides a high-quality experience for audiences by delivering engaging, exciting and thought-provoking events. There is something for everyone to enjoy, engage with and feel empowered by and as result re-lighting Wolverhampton through the power of literature.
Events include: Invisible Voices: In conversation with Shobna Gulati, In Conversation with Kuli Kohli, Aldona Grupas: The Immigration Stories of the Lithuanian Community and many more.
Tickets range from free to £12 plus fees.
All On Her Own (16 – 21 February 2021)
A powerfully atmospheric one-woman play, Terence Rattigan’s All On Her Own tells the story of Rosemary who, alone at midnight in London, has a secret burden to share that is both heartbreaking and sinister. Two time Olivier & Evening Standard Award-winner Janie Dee plays Rosemary Hodge in this thrilling new digital production directed by Alastair Knights.
The play began life as a piece for television, broadcast on BBC2 on 25 September 1968. It was first performed on stage at the Overground Theatre, Kingston, Surrey, in October 1974 and was most recently seen at the Garrick Theatre in April 2015 starring Zoe Wanamaker as part of the Kenneth Branagh Season.
Running time: approximately 25 minutes
Ticket pricing: £8 + booking fee
Anna Karenina (15 – 21 February 2021)
Based on the novel by LEO TOLSTOY & captured in front of a live theatre audience from the Moscow peretta Theatre .
This Anna Karenina, presented in Russian with English subtitles, is a spectacular, breathtaking, high-tech musical production based on the masterpiece by Leo Tolstoy. The dramatic and tumultuous love story between Anna Karenina and a dashing military officer, Alexey Vronsky, takes place amidst the glitter and luxury of the Russian nobility in the second half of the 19th century. The musical’s characters struggle with overwhelming love and betrayal, passion and duty, and hope and desperation. Although almost a century and a half has passed since the time of the story, the timeless quality of events unfolding before the audience remains both gripping and touching.
The production features music from composer Roman Ignatyev and a new libretto by Yuliy Kim, one of Russia’s foremost contemporary songwriters.
XCALIBUR (22 – 28 February 2021)
The musical scene thrives in South Korea with Xcalibur. The production showcases the journey of King Arthur, exploring his discovery of new-found responsibility as a young leader and getting married to the love of his life, Guinevere only to experience a reality far from what was expected.
Xcalibur, directed by Stephen Rayne, premiered in Korea on June 15, 2019 at the sprawling Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Korea. The production was the most anticipated show of the Korean season with an all-star cast including Kai, in the role of King Arthur, and was the latest collaboration between Grammy- and Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, playwright Ivan Menchell and lyricist Robin Lerner.
All Male G&S: Pirates of Penzance (29 March – 5 April 2021)
Filmed live at the Palace Theatre, London in December 2020.
Sasha Regan’s All Male Company of pirates and their winsome lasses are set to bring audiences one night of joy and laughter with their inventive new take on Gilbert & Sullivan’s much loved THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Features a shipshape cast singing songs including: “I am a Pirate King”; “Oh, happy day, with joyous glee” and “A rollicking band of pirates we”. They are sure to raise the roof off the Palace Theatre!
Expect plenty of onboard japes from the swashbuckling crew who are braving the high seas with rum and hand-sanitisers to bring you a socially distanced, Covid-secure show. A much-needed escape for families and friends who are looking for some festive spirit to banish lockdown blues.
The production was first staged at The Union Theatre in the heart of Southwark over a decade ago where it was a runaway success winning Best Off-West End Production at The WhatsOnStage Awards in 2009. Pirates transferred to Wilton’s Music Hall for a 6-week run and on to The Rose Theatre, Kingston before the All Male Company set sail on a tour of Australia culminating in a month-long run at the prestigious Sydney Theatre thanks to Cate Blanchett, then co-artistic director. There was a subsequent UK Tour in 2015 and another critically acclaimed run at the beautiful Wilton’s Music Hall last year.