Curtains closed. When the first lockdown was announced in March, indoor theatres were forced to close their doors. For many shows, it appears it’s going to be curtain calls until next year. The thrill of watching a live performance, the spectacular music and the feel good laughs and smiles seem like a distant memory.
For theatres have had to dramatically change their formats to adapt and survive until the show can begin again. Despite these odds, many theatres have found new ways to perform, as the show must go on, as we all need a little bit of theatre in our lives right now.
If you’re missing the West End, there’s more than a few ways you can still get your theatre fix during lockdown.
Hamilton
You can watch the full ‘in theatre’ show of Hamilton the Musical on Disney Plus. It’s 2hrs 40 mins, and perfect for a night at the theatre (even if you’re stuck at home). This is your chance to view Hamilton in all its musical glory from the comfort of your own home, from ‘my shot’ to ‘the schuyler sisters’ to ‘the room where it happens’, Hamilton the musical is a sure-fire way to get your theatre fix, this Christmas.
The Goes Wrong Show
If you’re looking for a quick fix, The Goes Wrong Show performed a short play ‘A Romantic Dinner Before 10pm’, inspired by the pandemic. It’s a light hearted slapstick fuelled barrel of laughs, that makes fun of the coronavirus restrictions. You can also watch the first series of the Goes Wrong Show, which consists of six half hour plays from a courtroom drama to a period romance, everything that can go wrong, does and for our entertainment. A Christmas special will be broadcast later this year on BBC.
Six the Musical
This historically modern musical, based on the six wives of Henry VI, has managed to survive and thrive during the pandemic. The small cast means you can go to socially distanced performances at their theatres, after lockdown. In the meantime, from London Theatre’s Video where the Worldwide (Six) Cast Performs Ex Wives/Six with Queendom, Six’s Virtual West End Live Performance, Countless TV Performances of Good Morning and the entire studio cast recording available to stream, everyone’s favourite ex wives are never far away.
Disney Cruise Line Musicals
For Disney Lovers everywhere, you can get your Disney theatre fix through the special hour long versions of Frozen and Tangled the Musicals, as performed on Disney Cruise Lines, on the Disney Parks YouTube channel. The cruise line musicals are condensed compared to their animated musical counterparts, but no less entertaining.
Plan a 2021 Theatre Trip
Another way to get your theatre fix, could be knowing you’ve got an indoor live performance to look forward to next year. There’s a tonne of new musicals coming next year, from Mean Girls, Frozen and Back to the Future with new additions and old favourites like Juliet, Six, Hamilton, Mamma Mia, Wicked and Everyone’s Talking About Jamie to choose from.
So, book your 2021 show and mark your calendars, knowing you are going to get your love theatre fix soon. In the meantime, there’s plenty of opportunities for the show to go on, from the comfort of your own living room.
(I: @thegirlandthecityofbooks)
