Last Updated on March 30, 2020 by Fiona Maclean

If you can’t get to the Theatre, let the Theatre come to you!

A series of digital initiatives to support us while we are in lockdown, Hampstead Theatre have launched their ‘At Home’ series. Its first initiative, I and You, Lauren Gunderson’s witty and uplifting portrayal of friendship, youth and living life to the full, was available on IGTV from Monday 23 until Sunday 29 March, 10pm (GMT).  Now, they’ve announced a series of three plays to keep everyone busy!

Week 1, from Monday 30 March 10am to Sunday 5 April 10pm (GMT), will feature Mike Bartlett’s Wild (2016).  Directed by James Macdonald, this darkly comic play explores the unexpected, bewildering, and life-changing consequences of challenging the status quo at a global level, inspired by the case of Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who copied and leaked classified information from the US National Security Agency in 2013.

Week 2, from Monday 6 April, 10am – Sunday 12 April, 10pm (GMT) will feature Beth Steel’s Wonderland (2014).  Directed by the theatre’s previous Artistic Director, Edward Hall, this epic and witty drama takes a look at the clashing ideologies during the UK’s Miners’ Strike of 1984–85 and presents the full sweep of the turbulent events that transformed the country.

Week 3, from Monday 13 April, 10am – Sunday 19 April, 10pm (GMT) will feature Howard Brenton’s Drawing the Line (2013).  Directed by the late Howard Davies, the play features a large ensemble and tells the story of the chaotic partitioning of India in 1947 whilst celebrating the strength of humanity.

All three productions were originally live-streamed from Hampstead Theatre and were available to watch on theguardian.com followed by an on-demand service for 72 hours.  Now they are all coming back so that 

Available to watch on theguardian.com and hampsteadtheatre.com, the three productions will be made available, on demand, over three consecutive weeks as part of the theatre’s #HampsteadTheatreAtHome series.

Hampstead Theatre closed its building following UK Government advice on Monday 16 March 2020.  

Roxana Silbert, Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre said:

“I am delighted and grateful to be in a position to offer this new #HampsteadTheatreAtHome series from Hampstead’s digital archive.  I hope these productions offer audiences entertainment, connection and nourishment in a time of uncertainty and isolation. These three plays all shine a light on turbulent points in our international history which, along with acknowledging the worst of human behaviour, celebrates the ingenuity, humour, compassion and resilience of the best.

 Thank you to the many artists involved for allowing us to create this series so quickly and to The Guardian for being our wonderful streaming partner again, helping us reach as many people as possible.”

So, if you are missing your injection of live theatre, do tune in.

We’ll be updating you on other initiatives from London theatres as and when we hear about them.  In the meanwhile, do check out the offerings from The Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells and The National Theatre.  It’s a great opportunity to catch up on shows you might have missed first time around.