We are a week into lockdown here in the UK and the art world as before has not let us down. In these dark and trying times, artists are crowding to move online like never before. There are many opportunities to get better, spend time with others or just distract yourself for a moment. The Sing Space offers a live vocal warm-up every day led by Rachel Lynes, WeAudition has paired up with Faye Timby and Sophie Holland Casting to offer open casting sessions and Spotlight are running a 1-2-1 meeting with casting directors every now and then.
But the real value lies in the wealth of good quality theatre now available for streaming. The Show Must Go Online, an initiative by Robert Myles, features actors from all over the world who will be streaming a reading of each of Shakespeare’s plays in chronological order, every Wednesday at 7 pm. On Thursdays, starting this week, we can look forward to what the National Theatre archive is bringing us and on various days throughout the week The Reykjavík City Theatre broadcasts both archived footage of former shows and various material conjured by the company which is still contracted to the theatre. This has so far featured readings, concerts, storytelling, and a DnD campaign. Unfortunately for the English speaking this material is all in Icelandic but it is accessible via the Borgarleikhúsið YouTube channel should it tickle your fancy.
Through my viewings of these various productions, I have discovered many things. Firstly that there was no reason for arts organizations to be hesitant to put their work up online in terms of quality. The leaps and bounds that we have taken in regard to filming equipment and education in the film industry mean that most of the footage is of high quality. In fact, I was surprised to see that Borgarleikhúsið´s production of Richard III, which was filmed by students from my alma mater Borgarholtskóli, was on a level with any TV production I´ve seen. Although to be fair, when I attended college, I did not exactly excel in film production, my talents were better suited to journalism and editing. One wonders if the real reason these productions have not been made available before is because of the possible loss of capital for the arts organization. Whilst understandable, it is my opinion that capital gain should never be at the forefront of a publically-funded arts organization and I urge more to follow in the footsteps of the previously mentioned.
There is an art to enjoying live-streamed theatre, however. In one´s home, there are a myriad of distractions and the wine list is sorely lacking a dreamy Primitivo. But the following tips should help you make the most out of your at-home theatre experience. Most of these tips are based on the way we were taught, as fresh-faced actors, to approach a script upon the first reading. And others are just technicalities.
Make sure the streaming takes place with the best equipment at hand. Don’t just watch it on your phone whilst you play Age of Empires on the laptop. You will miss plot points. Cast it on the TV or put it on full screen on your laptop. Connect it to a set of speakers if you have them. Dim the lights and draw the curtains.
Gather your family or housemates, or if in total isolation, decide to watch it remotely at the same time. A video call may be a good option but you risk a delay or lag. I would recommend rather that you call each other before, in the interval and after. Discuss what you are expecting from the production, what you have seen so far and whether you would have bought a ticket to this production on a normal day. How does that affect your experience of the piece?
Put your phone on a do not disturb mode so you are not inundated with irrelevant notifications. It is fair if you want to discuss the piece with your friends via WhatsApp or a similar media format but you don’t want your phone to light up every time you get a like or a retweet during the experience.
Have your snacks and beverages ready. The upside to enjoying theatre at home is that there is no limit to the number of drinks you can take into the experience but try not to stand up to make tea every ten minutes. If you feel compelled to do so the production is probably not very good but there are more distractions in the home and therefore you have to work harder to create the optimal environment for enjoying the experience. I would also suggest limiting your intake of liquids so that you don’t have to get up to go to the toilet all the time. Try to wait until the interval.
Afterwards, engage on social media. Theatre is a social art form. Put a word out on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, telling people what you thought and engage in discussions with them. Not only is this fun and might affect your experience of the piece, but it will also be delightful for those who put a lot of hard work into making the piece. We may not always engage with you but we do see your comments.
Enjoy the experience and let me know in the comments if you have any suggestions or ideas to make this even better.