Festive round-up

Happy New Year! Now we are deep in Lockdown 3 i.e. “Stay at Home, Support the NHS, Save Lives” it seems the first quarter of 2021 will be more of the same in terms of access to live performances with an audience. Theatres and arts organisations are again shuttered and silent.

However the online creative space remains vibrant. Over my festive break I still continued to watch a few productions purely for enjoyment rather than full review. These are highlighted below.

Christmas stories

A Christmas Carol – the Old Vic’s celebrated production rethought for live streaming, with innovative camera shots and effects. Purchased on a PwC £10 ticket and experienced live.

December – A New Play for Christmas – Bag of Beard’s creative take on A Christmas Carol utilises The Old Red Lion’s space to put Bob Cratchit front and centre. Purchased on a Pay What You Can basis, this play is available until 10 January here.

Pantomime

Cinderella – an online panto filmed in Yorkshire by Panto Live. Streamed live for several nights and then made available on demand until 31 January. Tickets from £10 here.

Rapunzel – the National Theatre of Scotland’s perusal of alternative acenarios for the classic fairy tale was available over Christmas and New Year until 4 January.

Madre Goose – a lively Zoom adaptation of the classic story from the LGBTQIA+ space, produced by Pride Punx Panto and Red Rash Inn, this queer punk panto was a lot of fun and is available on a Pay What You Can basis here until 10 January.

Musicals

Peter Pan the Musical – a recording of the Chicago Shakespeare production, with score and lyrics by Stiles and Drewe.

Ratatouille the TikTok Musical – made available via TodayTix, a full virtual recording of the show which originated on the TikTok platform.

Sunset Boulevard In Concert – a stunning live rendition of the classic musical which acknowledges both stage and screen roots, produced by Curve Leicester and starring Ria Jones. Available to 17 January here, with tickets at £20.