Top Theatre Streaming Services
The last few years have changed the way we do things – including attending theatre. While nothing can take away from the experience of in-person live entertainment, the recent technological shift has seen many new streaming services pop up that cater specifically to theatre.
Streaming services should never replace traditional theatre, but they can work in partnership, allowing more viewers from across the globe and allowing viewers to see more (particularly with more and more shows having overlapping performance times/seasons). We’ve compiled a list of the top theatre streaming services to get you through the season.
Australian Theatre Live
Recording and distributing homegrown theatre, this not-for-profit is helping the Australian entertainment industry reach new audiences. Still relatively small in size, Australian Theatre Live has been operating since 2014. Post-COVID, ATL now has great potential to expand into all facets of the industry – watch this space.
The current offering includes Queensland Theatre’s ‘Taming of the Shrew’, Sydney Theatre Company’s ‘Away’ and ‘The Wharf Revue’, Griffin Theatre Company’s ‘Diving for Pearls’ and ‘Emerald City’, with a promise of new shows every six weeks.
Find out more at Australian Theatre Live.
Digital Theatre
Since 2009, Digital Theatre has held the top spot as the home of world-class theatre, setting the standard for recorded live performances that can be streamed directly to the sofa. A global approach to content, Digital Theatre includes performances from across the UK, Europe, Australia and Russia. Can’t travel abroad just now? Experience the world from your device.
The current offering includes Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘The Comedy of Errors’, Heritage Theatre’s ‘The Mysteries’, ZooNation’s ‘Some Like It Hip Hop’, and Stage Russia’s ‘Drillalians’.
Find out more at Digital Theatre.
Marquee TV
Marquee TV is a much broader arts streaming service – with ballet, opera, festivals, music and theatre, to name a few. In addition to paid membership, they also have an offering of complimentary content and special rates for artists or those working in the performing arts industry. Performers, this one is worth checking out!
The current offering includes Classic Spring Theatre Company’s ‘A Woman of No Importance’, Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Richard II’, Original Theatre’s ‘Rosa’ and ‘Apollo 13’, and Royal Opera House’s ‘Madama Butterfly’.
Find out more at Marquee TV.
BroadwayHD
Based in (you guessed it!) New York City! BroadwayHD launched in 2015. Brainchild of Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, Tony Award-winning producers, the platform was formed to democratise a challenging market. With 100s of titles from Broadway and London’s West End, this may be the pinnacle of theatre streaming services.
The current offering includes Shaftesbury Theatre’s ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’, Open Air Theatre’s ‘Into the Woods’, Young Vic’s ‘A Doll House’, and Palace Theatre’s ‘An American in Paris’.
Find out more at BroadwayHD.
While these platforms are great for accessing shows from a range of producers, other companies have opted to stream from their own sites. Some of these include Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia, National Theatre (abroad) and LA Theatre Works (abroad).
Of course, there is also an abundance of live theatre and movie musicals to be found on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, ABC iView, and Hulu.
Let us know which platform you prefer and what you’ve streamed lately – drop it in the comments below.
