The National Theatre has been showing a free play every week since April, helping to make the lockdown just a bit more bearable for theatre-lovers.
The programme so far has included productions such as Frankenstein and One Man, Two Guvnors. Now the theatre company has revealed the next set of plays to look forward to over the next four weeks.
14th May, Barber Shop Chronicles – this never-before-seen archive recording of Inua Ellams’ smash hit play leaps between African barber shops from Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra over the course of a single day.
Directed by Olivier award-winning director Bijan Sheibani and designed by Rae Smith (War Horse), the Fuel and Leeds Playhouse production is billed as ‘heart-warming, hilarious and insightful’.
21st May, A Streetcar Named Desire – Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, Sex Education) stars as Blanche DuBois in this Young Vic and Joshua Andrews co-production of the Tennessee Williams classic.
As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella (Vanessa Kirby) for solace – but her downward spiral brings her face to face with the brutal, unforgiving Stanley Kowalski (Ben Foster).
28th May, This House – Filmed live on stage in 2013, James Graham’s sell-out political production is set in 1974 within a hung parliament, where ‘the corridors of Westminster ring with the sound of infighting and backstabbing’.
The drama delves into the shadowy world of the Whips as they try to exert their influence on an unruly chorus of MPs.
4th June, Coriolanus – Tom Hiddleston stars as Coriolanus in Shakespeare’s tragedy of political manipulation and revenge.
The Roman general is called upon to defend Rome once again when the city faces a threat from an old adversary – but he has enemies at home too.
Each play will be released on YouTube and will be available to stream from 7pm on the Thursday it is released.
Plays are free to watch, however, the theatre is welcoming donations and anyone who would like to donate can do so at nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home.
