(James
Corden in One Man, Two Guvnors, for which he won a Tony Award. Stream the hit
comedy free on YouTube from April 2 to 9. Picture by Johan Persson)
by BILLY SUTER (courtesy of sosuterbill.com)
While the Coronavirus pandemic keeps
theatres dark in South Africa, on Broadway and in London’s West End, the
curtain has risen on some terrific news – National Theatre Live, which presents
filmed London stage productions, will be streaming acclaimed shows free on
YouTube from Thursday, April 2.
In an effort to boost morale and promote
theatre in these dark times, the series will be known as National Theatre At
Home and new shows will premiere at 19h00 (UK time) every Thursday. Each show
will be available for free streaming on the National Theatre YouTube channel
for seven days.
It has been reported that the series will
include Q&As with cast and creative teams, post-screening talk-backs, and
more.
The National Theatre Live (NTL) website
reports that it has also been decided to offer NTL’s world-class productions
free to UK state-funded teacher and pupils at home, as well as offer a free
trial for other educational institutions.
First up among shows to be streamed free on
YouTube will be Nicholas Hytner’s widely acclaimed production of One Man, Two Guvnors, filmed live on
stage in 2011. It will premiere at 19h00 (UK time) on Thursday, April 2, and
then will be available for free streaming any time until April 9.
Also confirmed for April streaming is Sally
Cookson’s adaptation of Jane Eyre
(from April 9). It is a bold and innovative reimagining of Charlotte Bronte’s
masterpiece which uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfillment on her
own terms.
Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Robert Louis
Stevenson’s Treasure Island is
scheduled for streaming from April 16. This thrilling stage production of the
tale of murder, money and mutiny features Arthur Darvill as pirate Long John
Silver,
Tamsin Greig plays Malvolia in William
Shakespeare’s classic comedy, Twelfth
Night (from April 23), which tells of music being the food of love and a
play in which nobody is quite what they seem.
Additional titles are expected to be
announced at a later date.
A Broadway and West End comedy hit, One Man, Two Guvnors features a Tony
Award-winning performance from the host of The
Late Late Show, James Corden, who has also been seen on the big screen in Into the Woods and Cats.
One
Man, Two Guvnors also stars Oliver Chris, Tom Edden
and Jemima Rooper. Adapted from a play by Carlo Goldoni by Richard Bean, the
comedy focuses on a man who has to cater to two masters, one of whom is a
gangster, while also just trying to get a bite to eat.
A riotous farce, running three hours and 30
minutes with interval, One Man, Two
Guvnors enjoyed a UK tour before running in the West End and transferring
to Broadway. It won Corden a WhatsOnStage Award, a Tony Award, a Drama Desk
Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. – Billy Suter, sosuterbill.com
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