National Theatre to stream productions for free online via YouTube

The National Theatre has announced it will be streaming its productions for free via YouTube from April.

It comes as theatres across the world remain closed as a result of the ongoing global pandemic.

New initiative National Theatre At Home will allow audiences to watch a number of NT Live productions for free via the National Theatre’s YouTube channel.

Productions will be made available from 7PM on Thursdays from April 2 and can be watched for the following seven days.

The first production to be streaming will be Richard Bean’s One Man Two Guvnors featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden.

Working closely with YouTube, other productions streamed as part of National Theatre At Home include Sally Cookson’s stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre on the 9th April, Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island on 16th April, and Twelfth Night on the 23 April featuring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia in Shakespeare’s classic comedy.

Further titles are to be announced.

Lisa Burger, Executive Director and Joint Chief Executive 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.”