March 27, 2020

NATIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS TO BE STREAMED FOR FREE ON YouTube

Audiences around the world can stream NT Live productions for free via YouTube

The National Theatre has announced plans to stream NT Live shows for free on YouTube.

From Thursday 2 April [UK], a number of productions previously screened in cinemas  globally as a part of National Theatre Live will be made available to watch for free.

All the productions will be free and screened live every Thursday at 7.00pm [UK time] and will then be available on demand for seven days on the NT’s YouTube channel. 

Thursday 2 April, 7pm (UK) | Friday 3 April, 7am (NZ)  
Richard Bean’s One Man Two Guvnors featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden.

Thursday 9 April 7pm (UK) | Friday 10 April, 6am (NZ)
Sally Cookson’s Jane Eyre

Thursday 16 April 7pm (UK) | Friday 17 April, 6am (NZ)
Bryony Lavery’s Treasure Island adaptation starring Arthur Darvill

Thursday 23 April 7pm (UK) | Friday 24 April, 6am (NZ)
and Twelfth Night with Tamsin Greig.

Further titles are to be announced. See here.

Lisa Burger said: “Our ambition at the National Theatre is to create work which is challenging, entertaining and inspiring and we’re committed to continuing that through these difficult times. I’m thrilled that we’re able to fulfil this ambition in a different way through our collaboration with YouTube. I am exceptionally proud of the team at the National Theatre for working so hard to create NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME and also to the rights holders who have been so supportive of this new initiative allowing us to bring theatre to households right across the world.

“We have delved into the National Theatre Live archive and curated a programme that’s varied from comedy to new dramas to classics so there is something for everyone to enjoy from their own homes. We will be streaming each production at the same time each week in order to recreate, where possible, the communal viewing experience and we hope this will be an opportunity for people to share their enjoyment together online.”

The theatre has also made the pre-existing National Theatre Collection available to pupils and teachers at state schools and state-funded further education colleges at home for free in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing. 24 productions are currently available.