seeing theatre in a new light
Sky Arts (channel 11) bring some of the most popular recorded stage shows to your home this Christmas. You can see LES MISERABLES – The Staged Concert on Christmas Eve at 7.30pm, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Royal Albert Hall on 27th December at 4.15pm, and the 25th anniversary production of MISS SAIGON on 27th December at 10.00pm.
Sandwiched between those latter two will be Cameron Mackintosh – The First 50 Years, a profile of the noted producer, on 27 December at 7.00 pm.
After its 2019 tour & sell-out run at HOME Manchester, the acclaimed SPARKPLUG by David Judge will be aired on Monday 31st May at 10pm BST on Sky Arts Freeview channel (channel 11).
Manchester-based Box of Tricks is an innovative young theatre company whose Executive Producer is Max Emmerson, the first winner of the Anthony Field Producer Prize at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2015.
I am sure that SPARKPLUG will be worth staying in for!
This coming Sunday, 18 April at 9pm, Sky Arts’ Freeview Channel screens the Almeida’s hit from earlier this year, HYMN. Starring Adrian Lester (Red Velvet, Hustle) and Danny Sapani (Killing Eve, Les Blancs), HYMN is written by Lolita Chakrabarti (Red Velvet, Life of Pi) and directed by Blanche McIntyre (The Writer).
“Man, sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself”
Miles Davis
Two men meet at a funeral. Benny is a loner anchored by his wife and children. Gil longs to fulfil his potential. They form a deep bond but as cracks appear in their fragile lives they start to realise that true courage comes in different forms.
Featuring music from Gil and Benny’s lives, Lolita Chakrabarti’s searching, soulful new play asks what it takes to be a good father, brother or son.
With live theatre still paused, Sky Arts Freeview channel is taking the opportunity to re-screen some of the shows which have been enjoyed on their channel. Here are the first shows, updated as more information becomes available.
Early birds and insomniacs can take early morning theatre to a new level when Sky Arts screens THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! on Saturday 27 March at 6.10am
Similarly, dance lovers can set their alarms early on Sunday 28 March to catch Northern Ballet’s CASANOVA at 6.30am
And in the evening on Sunday 28 March you can enjoy BILLY ELLIOT:THE MUSICAL at 9.00pm
On Easter weekend, you can see the National Theatre’s acclaimed ROMEO AND JULIET on Sunday April 4th at 9.00pm
More news as it becomes available.
Sky Arts first Freeview Festive season looks set to pull out all the stops with its season of classic plays and iconic musicals.
Firstly, at 8:00pm on Sunday 20th December
The South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2020 are presented by Melvyn Bragg; the annual ceremony honours people from the worlds of art and culture, and is now in its 24th year.
Then, at 9:00pm on Monday 21st December you can see the National Theatre’s acclaimed Twelfth Night from 2017 starring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia in a gender-twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identity staged at the National Theatre (available with subtitles).
At 9.00pm on Tuesday 22nd December you can see The Sound of Music – Live! This adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical was originally broadcast live on US TV from Grumman Studios in Bethpage, New York, in December 2013.
At 9:00pm on Wednesday 23rd December you can see Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert- A New York City production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock musical, with an all-star cast including John Legend, Alice Cooper, Sara Bareilles and Jason Tam.
At 9:00pm on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December, you can enjoy The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall; Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess star in Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, marking 25 years since it opened in the West End, with the show telling the story of a disfigured musical genius who lives in the catacombs of the Paris Opera House.
On Boxing Day (Saturday 26th December) there is a remarkable Boublil and Schönberg double-bill. At 6.05pm you can enjoy the 25th Anniversary concert production of Les Misérables. This is followed at 9.00pm by the spectacular production of Miss Saigon.
Plays reappear on 28 December at 9.00pm with Sally Cookson’s acclaimed NT production of Jane Eyre.
The musical fare is rounded off on Wednesday 30 December at 9.00pm with a recorded performance of Billy Elliot the Musical.
All in all, a good variety of music and drama to keep those live theatre pangs at bay for a little while longer. Happy Christmas!