The Blue Bird (Night)

Private Lives

Guidance 12+ • 1h 36m

Private Lives, a comedy of manners by Noel Coward, sees a romance revisited between Elyot and Amanda after they unexpectedly meet each other while both on honeymoon with their respective spouses. This production was captured by Digital Theatre live at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End. It was directed by Jonathan Kent and starred Toby Stephens as Elyot and Anna Chancellor as Amanda. It was described by the Daily Telegraph as “two hours of comic bliss.”

Children of the Sun

Guidance 12+ • 1h 58m

Written during his imprisonment and the abortive Russian Revolution of 1905, Maxim Gorky's dark comedy about the fears and obsessions of the intellectual elite is brought to life by multi-award-winning director Timofey Kulyabin. Set in 1999 at Stanford University, this modernised interpretation focuses on the interplay between characters and their search for meaning, all while being unaware of their impending annihilation. This production was captured live by Stage Russia HD at the Red Torch Theatre in Novosibirsk, Russia. Performed in Russian with English subtitles.

Hamlet

3h 32s

Considered to be one of the greatest tragedies of all time, Shakespeare’s tale of murder and revenge is brought to life in this critically acclaimed and visually striking production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Simon Godwin's fresh retelling, set in an unnamed African state, sees Paapa Essiedu shine in the title role, becoming the first Black actor to play Hamlet for the RSC.

The Blue Bird (Journey)

Guidance 12+ • 2h 50m

Two children embark on a whirlwind adventure to find the Blue Bird of happiness in part one of Boris Yukhananov's epic trilogy, based on Maurice Maeterlinck’s mystical play. Captured by the Stanislavsky Electrotheatre in Moscow and presented in partnership with Stage Russia HD, this visually compelling production features the reminiscences of Russian actors Vladimir Korenev and Aleftina Konstantinova, and experiments with various theatrical traditions including Japanese Noh theatre.

True West

Guidance 12+ • 1h 59m

Often hailed as Sam Shepard’s masterpiece, True West deconstructs the damaged relationship between two estranged brothers who are striving for success. Captured by Digital Theatre live at the Tricycle Theatre in London, Eugene O’Hare and Alex Ferns clash magnificently as brothers, Austin and Lee, in this character driven piece which cleverly combines comedy and chaos in two tension-filled acts.

Eugene Onegin

All Ages • 2h 33m

Director of The Royal Opera, Kasper Holten, made his directorial debut at Covent Garden with this new production of Tchaikovsky’s poignant opera. When Tatyana is introduced to the dashing, unconventional Onegin, she believes that he is the hero of her dreams but he carelessly rejects her – with tragic consequences.

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

All Ages • 1h 41m

Featuring the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill, this triple header includes Hector Berlioz' Waverley overture, Les nuits d'été and Symphonie fantastique. Valery Gergiev showcases his opulent interpretation of Berlioz' landmark piece Symphonie fantastique, the story of an artist’s ‘hopeless love’, complete with waltzes, witches and a hallucinogenic nightmare.

Coriolanus

2h 44m

Thought to be his final tragedy, Shakespeare’s tale of political manoeuvring and maternal love is brought to life in this modernised production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon, Angus Jackson’s blood-soaked adaptation questions where authority should lie, while the various power players engage in hand-to-hand combat across the stage. Production photography by Helen Maybanks

Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran

Guidance 12+ • 1h 12m

*If you have Instagram, we recommend watching our other, multi-screen, version of Rich Kids.* In 2015 Robert Mugabe’s son filmed himself pouring champagne over the £45,000 watch his father bought him, tagging it on Instagram as #daddyrunsthewholecountry. Based on the extravagant lives of young people in the Middle East, this virtual production co-directed and performed by Javaad Alipoor comments on social media’s complicity in the widening gap between rich and poor. This version of Rich Kids embeds an Instagram feed into the performance.

An American in Paris

All Ages • 2h 18m

Featuring classic songs such as “‘S Wonderful” and “I Got Rhythm”, this Tony Award-winning Broadway musical tells the story of a chance encounter between an American GI and a young dancer on the streets of Paris. Captured during its West End run at the Dominion Theatre in 2017, this production combines the iconic music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin with breathtaking choreography.