Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

King Lear

Guidance 12+ • 2h 43m

King Lear is considered by many to be Shakespeare’s finest tragedy. Lear, in dividing up his kingdom to his three daughters, gradually descends into madness, ultimately bringing tragedy upon all concerned. This production was captured by Digital Theatre live at London’s Almeida Theatre as part of the 2012 World Shakespeare Festival. Directed by the Almeida’s Artistic Director, Michael Attenborough, it starred the award-winning Jonathan Pryce as a Lear said to be “electrifying naturalistic” by the Independent on Sunday, “changeable as the weather, warm and gentle, shaken and ferociously raging.”"

Decadence

Guidance 12+ • 1h 22m

Steven Berkoff and Joan Collins star in this 1994 film about two couples indulging in sexual relations: Steve, a wealthy husband who’s having an affair with posh socialite Helen, and Sybil, Steve’s wife, who is sleeping with a private eye hired to kill her husband. Based on Berkoff’s original stage play, this satirical study of 1980’s Thatcherite Britain explores the divide between the upper and working classes, utilising poetic language, physicality and camera techniques to paint a damaging portrait of high society. Contains strong language, adult themes, and content that some viewers may find offensive."

Henry V

All Ages • 2h 42m

The final part of his history tetralogy, Shakespeare’s tale of kingship and war is brought to life in this all-conquering production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2015 - 600 years since the battle of Agincourt - this adaptation firmly established Henry V as the culmination of one epic story.

Hamlet

Guidance All Ages • 3h 4m

Captured in the round at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, this production of Shakespeare's classic tragedy boldly reimagines gender across the characters. Maxine Peake, a leading British talent, stars as the first UK female Hamlet on a major stage for 35 years. The production continues director Sarah Frankcom’s work at the REM, now lauded as the UK’s ‘first mainstream feminist theatre.’

From Up Here

12+ • 1h 10m

From Up Here is a new musical by Aaron Lee Lambert, exploring what one’s life choices can mean and how we can affect other people without even realising. This production, captured by Digital Theatre live at the Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, was directed by Luke Sheppard, with musical direction by Tom Attwood.

Don Giovanni

12+ • 2h 43m

Mozart’s Don Giovanni was first performed in 1787, and was based on the story of the Spanish lothario, Don Juan. The title character seduces, deceives and murders his way through the opera, doing his utmost to experience life, and all that it has to offer, to the full. This production, captured by Digital Theatre at the Grand Theatre and Opera House in Leeds, was Opera North’s first Don Giovanni for seven years. It was critically commended for its ”refreshing” update and “outstanding” performances. It was directed by Alessandro Talevi and conducted by Tobias Ringborg.

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man

Guidance All Ages • 1h 38m

The arrival of a handsome stranger in a small town in America sets off a spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge in Matthew Bourne’s signature modern dance production, loosely based on Bizet’s opera. Captured by Sky Arts at Sadler’s Wells in 2015, this New Adventures production brings together Lez Brotherston’s epic design with Bourne’s vivid choreography and a recognisable score from Terry Davies. *Contains sexual references and violence.

King John

Guidance 12+ • 2h 32m

Shakespeare’s rarely performed play about the feud between King John of England and the King of France is given new life in this modern adaptation from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Captured live in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2019, Eleanor Rhode's captivating production sees Rosie Sheehy cast in the title role. Production photography by Steve Tanner

Great Expectations

Guidance All Ages • 1h 53m

Jo Clifford's adaptation of Charles Dickens' renowned novel explores the unrequited love of Pip, a young boy who becomes a gentleman of means and moves to London. Featuring some of the most famous characters in literature, this 'spectacular and awe-inspiring' production (WestEndWilma) boasts a talented cast of bizarre, comic and absurd characters, including Jack Ellis as Mr Jaggers, Christopher Ellison as Magwitch, Paula Wilcox as Miss Havisham, Paul Nivison as Adult Pip, Grace Rowe as Estella and Taylor Jay-Davies as Young Pip. Four Stars - The Times, The Sunday Telegraph, WestEndWilma.

Schrödinger

Guidance 12+ • 1h 10m

In one of Reckless Sleepers’ most celebrated performance pieces, the impossible is probable: truth and illusion are inseparable. Laws are made, bent, then broken. Directed by Mole Wetherell, this visually mesmerising production sheds light on contemporary devised theatre and was captured live at the New Adelphi Theatre, Salford in 2022.