Theatre at Home in March and April.

The theatres are opening up their archives with a fantastic range of productions during the pandemic lockdown in the UK and it's the perfect time to engage with the industry. I have been using the time to watch productions I had missed during their run or opening my mind to new productions, it's been a great experience for me individually.

Credit: JESHOOTS.COM

I have over a page worth's of shows to get through as well as others being added to it regularly, so I'm looking forward to filling my time with productions right now. Instead of writing individual reviews on the shows that will probably take me a while to write, or are written before the availability to watch them runs out; I thought I would just share with you a round-up of the theatre I've been enjoying at home during March and April. 

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

One of the first musical productions I watched in isolation was this new musical based on the much-loved novel by Kenneth Grahame. I missed this during it's run in London a couple of years ago. Our favourite characters are back for this show and with a stellar cast line up including Denise Welch as Mrs Otter and Rufus Hound as Toad to name a few. It centres around Toad's insatiable need for speed. It's a really uplifting, warm musical and the soundtrack is wonderful too. The set design is superb and there are some unforgettable characters in this show.

This musical isn't available to stream for free anymore but you can watch it for a small fee, visit their website here. 

EUGENIUS! 

This new musical by Ben Adam and Chris Wilkins had two runs at The Other Palace in 2017 and 2018, was released to raise money for Acting for Others at the tail end of March. It's a fantastic, fun and electric musical that follows nerdy kid Eugene who dreams of making a superhero movie. It did well during it's run, nominated for five WhatsOnStage Awards including Best New Musical, Best Actor and Best Actress. It's a really easy musical to follow along with, has catchy songs in it and infectious energy around it. I really enjoyed this show!
You can still watch this show here. 

ROCKY HORROR SHOW LIVE

This outrageous musical is definitely one to get you up dancing during isolation! The 2015 production was filmed in celebration of the 40th anniversary, there's a whole host of celebrity guests throughout the show that add to the chaos. It's one of my favourite feel-good musicals so I was thrilled to be able to watch this one.

You can still watch this show here. 

TREASURE ISLAND

National Theatre is bringing some of their gorgeous productions in the homes of the country during this tough time and they're such a delight to be able to watch. One of them I watched in April is the 2014 production of Treasure Island. What a gorgeous retelling of the Robert Louis Stevenson, I was gripped instantly by this show and felt so lucky to be able to watch it from my home. The staging of the Treasure Island in this production is incredible and really carries the wow factor. I liked the way in which each actor interpreted their characters, especially Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver. 

FLOWERS FOR MRS HARRIS

Such a beautiful production this one! Flowers for Mrs Harris is based on the novel by Paul Gallico about a charlady's dream of owning a Dior gown, it stars Clare Burt, Joanna Riding and Gary Wilmot.  It's not a big song and dance musical but it definitely packs emotional drive to draw the audience in. I love how simplistic the staging is in order to execute the job with this show though. Brought to us by Chichester Festival Theatre who have loads of great performances online right now. 

US AGAINST WHATEVER

Something different that I watched whilst at home in April, Us Against Whatever brought to us by Hull Truck Theatre. This cabaret-style piece shines a light on the places we keep in our hearts from the award-winning company, Middle Child. There are mentions of Brexit and some modern references into sexuality and relationships that bring this show a lot of strength. I really enjoyed their interaction with the audience in this piece, with karaoke on stage during the interval! Such a good performance and a company I'd love to see more work from in the future for sure. 

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Iconic man in the musical realm, Andrew Lloyd Webber has been allowing people to enjoy some of this most popular shows of all time every Friday night. It's become a proper affair in my home; I pour myself a drink, turn off my phone and make it like a real night in the theatre. In April came the 25th anniversary special of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011. This was the last musical I saw in the theatre before lockdown so what a treat, and how wonderful this show is! I've found a real love for this show over the months and this anniversary performance was just as powerful and beautiful. Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess are incredible in this show too! 

LOVE NEVER DIES

During April I also enjoyed watching the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies. The musical follows on ten years after the original musical, with the Phantom disappeared from the Paris Opera House to New York, where he now lives amongst the joy rides and freakshows of Coney Island. The production stars Ben Lewis and Anna O'Bryne in the leading of a cast of 36. This show is just as beautifully staged and powerful as it's foundations, I couldn't keep my eyes off it. It wasn't at the same love for me as The Phantom of the Opera but it's still a fantastic musical, I hope I'll be able to see it during its UK Tour when all of this pandemic is over.

Did you watch any theatre at home in March and April?
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