Every Friday the Critical Stages Touring team will be posting links to streaming opportunities and performances from artists. It’s our little round-up of what’s available online now and over the coming week. Tell us what you’re up to, or if you’ve found something everyone should know about. Whether its a concert from a couch fort, or a thrilling monologue from under a neighbours hills hoist, we want to know about it. There’s no restriction on genre, it can be paid, free or by tips, live or on-demand, with a preference for work in Australia or New Zealand.
Have something? Send your show details, including performance times and links, along with a hero image, to robbi@criticalstages.com.au .
Stage And Stream Links
Friday 27th March
- CYPRUS AVENUE FOR WORLD THEATRE DAY
To celebrate World Theatre Day (that’s today!) at noon Abbey Theatre will be partnering with the Royal Court Theatre and The Space to make Cyprus Avenue, the film adaptation, available to watch for free on their website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
YouTube – On-Demand – Free
www.abbeytheatre.ie - AWAY by MICHAEL GOW by ONE MAN
Unfortunately along with the rest of everything in life, Brownsmart Theatre Darwin’s 2020 Season of Away by Michael Gow was cut short. Kyle Walmsley, who charmed you in CATS! by One Man and CHICAGO by One Man, will perform the whole show from his 2 bedroom unit in Nightcliff. Expect laughs.
5.30pm Darwin / 7pm AEDT – Free
FACEBOOK LIVE – https://www.facebook.com/events/784309632093600/ - UPPER CRASS IMPROV
Sydney-based improvised theatre troup Upper Crass Theatre Co are live-streaming every night until March 29th. 2 whole hours of imrpovised madness from the same group that brought you Improvised Ibsen.
7.30pm AEDT – every night until March 29th – Free
TWITCH – www.twitch.tv/uppercrasstc
Saturday 28th March
- SEQUIN SESSIONS – SATURDAY EDITION
Join cabaret artiste and star of ‘A Migrant’s Son‘, Michaela Burger, for some grown up cabaret direct from her the sequin cave itself. Music, banter and plenty of glitter. This regular series of live-stream cabaret is a place we can all tune into to forget the troubles of the world. And she’s fabulous.
8pm AEDT – Free but please consider a donation or tip!
www.michaelaburger.live
Sunday 29th March
- STREAMED SHAKESPEARE – THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
A live-streamed, video conference staged reading of Shakespeare’s hilarious “The Comedy Of Errors”. This Sydney-based collective will be producing a new work every Sunday and they feature some very recognisable faces from Sydney’s independent theatre scene.
10:30am – Free
ZOOM – via www.facebook.com/events/540747329970339/
Monday 30th March
- THE AUSSIE KIDS COUCH CONCERT
Premieres Monday 30th! Hosted by Emily Who and produced in association with Sydney’s Rogue Projects, The Aussie Kids Couch Concert brings together 10 fabulous children’s entertainers from across Australia for a song-filled hour of fun in your living room, and some of it from theirs! Line up includes The Beanies, Cheeky Tunes, Lizzy Loo, Penny Pom Pom, B Minor Music and Van Serano to name a few. Purchase or rent on-demand with all proceeds going to the artists.
On demand – $11.95 to purchase, $5.95 to rent
VIMEO – www.vimeo.com/ondemand/kidscouchconcert - THE STORY CHUNDER WITH MATT YOUNG
Matt’s weekly live event was performed at Brisbane’s BackDock Arts. Every week a new lot of storytellers spew forth their most entertaining stories for your delight or disapproval. Join host Matt Young (TBS’s WRECKED, original Australian cast of THE PRODUCERS) for the livestream then listen to his podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Twitch or where ever you listen to podcasts.
7pm QLD / 8pm AEDT – Free
INSTAGRAM LIVE – www.instagram.com/thestorychunder
Tuesday 31st March
- HOME THEATRE ARTS ONLINE
This online collective record a zoom group performance every week and invite you to a global weekly watch party every Tuesday – this week it’s Curtain Call by Alicia Badger performed by Iley Jones, Alex Fenner, Shannon Collard, and Alicia Badger. Also scheduled is Dead Mother’s Numbers by Warren Paul Glover performed by Virginia Gray and Anna Soprano.
7pm AEDT
FACEBOOK LIVE – www.facebook.com/HomeTheatreArts/
Wednesday 1st April
- NURSERY RHYME TIME
Michaela Burger hosts alive-streamed show just for little ones who love a story. Classic nursery rhymes are brought to life by one of Australia’s most experienced cabaret artists.
11am AED – Free, please consider a donation or tip!
www.michaelaburger.live
Thursday 2nd April
- LIBERTY EQUALITY FRATERNITY
This is technically an on-demand but it’s perfect Thursday viewing right? Australian National Theatre Live presents this Ensemble Theatre and Company production of Geoffrey Atherdon’s comedy about the internet, security and surveillance. Features Caroline Brazier (Rake; Tidelands), Andrew Ryan (INXS: Never Tear Us Apart) and Helmut Bakaitis (The Matrix).
Vimeo On Demand – $1.99 to rent
www.vimeo.com/ondemand/libertyequality
On-Demand & Regular
- POETRY IN ACTION – EDUCATION
Poetry In Action are a non-profit organisation that tour poetry performances to schools around Australia, NZ, Hong Kong and the UAE. They have professionally recorded all of their performances so they are available online to stream from the into your home or classroom! Their writers and directors have created four performances in line with the curriculum for Years 5-12. If you are interested in booking a digital performance, check out www.poetryinaction.com.au or email them at info@poetryinaction.com.au. - Sequin Sessions – as above, every Wed, Sat, and also Sundays at 3pm AEDT for sing alongs for the little ones.
- Upper Crass Improv – as above, 7.30pm AEDT every night until March 29th.
- Streamed Shakespeare – new show weekly, Sundays at 10;30am AEDT
INTERNATIONAL
- NATIONAL THEATRE LONDON
From Thursday 2 April, a number of productions previously screened in cinemas globally as a part of National Theatre Live will be made available to watch for free. The first will be Richard Bean’s One Man Two Guvnors featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden. All the productions will be free and screened live every week and will then be available on demand for seven days on the NT’s YouTube channel.
Thursdays 7pm (UK) / Fridays 6am AEDT – Free
YouTube – NT Channel - SCHAUBEHNE BERLIN
Berlin’s Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz is one of the world’s most celebrated theatre companies, and now you don’t have to be in Berlin to get a taste of why. Every night, starting at 6.30pm Berlin time and running until midnight, a different play from their vaults will stream. There’s too much to highlight here – get over and see what’s in store!
6.30pm Berlin / 4.30am Sydney – Free
www.schaubuehne.de - PARADE
Watch Theatre Du Chatelet’s production of Parade via their online magazine. Paris’ acclaimed theatre and opera house are putting a host of former prodcutions up on their magazine and YouTube channel during the iso period. And it’s Free!
On-Demand – Free (please consider donating)
www.chatelet.com - LINCOLN CENTRE AT HOME
Lincoln Center’s new portal enables families and communities to keep the performing arts front and centre. From major productions to concerts for kids, New York’s famed arts instutition is bringing their world online for us all to enjoy. This week’s shows include Wagner’s Götterdämmerung (Metropolitan Opera)
Various Times (New York) and On-Demand – Free
www.incolncenter.org/lincoln-center-at-home - ON THE BOARDS
The streaming performance service has flung open the vault and everything is FREE to stream until the end of April .That’s scores of incredible live performance captured for your iso enjoyment. Dance, spoken word, drama, physical theatre – it’s all there and on-demand.
On-Demand – Free with code (on homepage)
www.ontheboards.tv - GEFFEN STAYHOUSE
Geffen Playhouse will offer free access to BroadwayHD for 30 days, where they’ll be curating shows from their past every Wednesday. This week’s catalog included Geffen’s stagings of A Long Day’s Journey Into Night, starring Jane Kaczmarek and Alfred Molina; Thom Pain (based on nothing), with Rainn Wilson. Keep an eye on their Facebook page every Wednesday (USA) to see what will be on offer every week.
On-Demand – Free with Subscription
www.geffenplayhouse.org/stayhouse/ - THEATRE IS THE CURE
This is an online pay-what-you-can theatre event, and all proceeds will be distributed to participating artists. Thirty PLAYWRIGHTS will write one original monologue each. Thirty DIRECTORS will be matched with a script and one of thirty ACTORS to rehearse via teleconference, culminating in a live event streaming worldwide.
Every Friday (USA) at 6.30pm PDT and Saturday 12.30pm Sydney – Free
FACEBOOK LIVE – www.facebook.com/events/1417131878461230
OPPORTUNITIES
- TOOTH & SINEW’S THEATRE OF ISOLATION
In the coming weeks/months, Tooth and Sinew will be facilitating readings, play developments and industry roundtables online using that pandemic saviour, Zoom. It’s aim is to be a relaxed inclusive space where artists can stay in practice, learn new skills and meet future collaborators. Wehter you’re a writer, director, actor, or designer – get in touch with them now! If you have a burning porject idea – get in touch with them now: email them at toothandsinew@gmail.com and start a conversation! - AT HOME ARTS FESTIVAL
At Home Arts Festival (University of Melbourne) is a digital space for finding community and sharing your art while social distancing or self-isolating. They have a weekly online meetup every Friday and are also asking for submissions for their Thursday streamed events: www.athomeartsfestival.com/submit/ - HOME THEATRE ART ONLINE
This online collective are creating work collaboratively through the week culminating in readings and works that performed via live-stream every Tuesday. They’re looking for directors and actors now for weekly streamed performances. Get involved at http://tiny.cc/HomeTheatreArts
