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Watch your favourite shows online
It may not be quite the same as getting dressed up for an evening at the theatre, or enjoying some popcorn and fizzy drinks at your local cinema. But it has been great to see so many venues and artists adapting their programmes to online audiences. It’s safe to say the creative industries are taking the lead in finding creative ways to satisfy our cultural needs. Let’s find out what’s currently available online in your local neighbourhood!
There’s nothing amateur about these performances
If there’s one positive thing to come out of lockdown, it’s that The Arts has never been more accessible. Theatre companies the world over are opening their digital archives, so there has never been a better time to revisit your favourite performance or finally watch that play you’ve been meaning to book tickets for.
Here are just a few we’ve selected to get your cultural juices flowing: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, available from National Theatre at Home for free from the 25th June, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, and last but not least, the highly acclaimed Fleabag theatre show, which is making a special return to help raise funds for charities on the front line of the pandemic. Also check out The Shows Must Go On, streaming free West End and Broadway musicals every Friday at 7pm.
Get your dance shoes on!
Royal Albert Home brings exclusive sessions from artists’ homes to yours whilst the Hall is closed. These include Nicola Benedetti on 4th July and Nashville Meets London on 18th July. All performances in the series so far can be found in the Royal Albert Hall Archive. You can find Kaiser Chiefs, Scouting for Girls, Alfie Boe, We’ll Meet Again For VE Day 75 With Katherine Jenkins, KT Tunstall, Classical For Kids – Cecilia De Maria, and Opera For Kids – Amazing Arias.
Other bands and artists continuing to livestream during lockdown include Josh Groban, Radiohead, who are currently posting weekly classic concert videos to their YouTube channel on Thursdays at 10pm, and Rock Gods Metallica, who have launched a new concert series which will see the band stream a complete live show on their YouTube channel and on Facebook every Friday at 8pm. Or if Dance Music is more your thing, visit Defected Records to explore their #VirtualClubbing line-ups and playlists.
Soak up the festival vibe – without getting muddy!
With the festival season almost upon us, you can be forgiven for feeling disappointed that most live events remain on hold for the foreseeable. But don’t despair, you can still catch your favourite artists and bands without having to forgo any of your usual creature comforts.
In Glastonbury’s absence this year, The BBC is planning to air classic sets to celebrate 50 years of Glastonbury, including performances from Beyoncé, Adele, Cold Play, David Bowie and Jay Z. Tune in from the 26th-28th June. Wireless Festival is also pleased to announce Wireless Connect, a three-day virtual festival coming live to your home from the 3rd-5th July.
Fancy a kick about?
The return of Premier League on 17th June was streamed globally in all but five countries, amassing huge live audiences across the world – such is the power of English sport! All the remaining fixtures will be televised across Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC and Amazon Prime. In another landmark move, Sky will make 25 of their games free-to-air in a first for the corporation.
The Arts
Museums in Quarantine is a BBC iplayer series exploring national Museum collections at a time of enforced lockdown. Some noticeable episodes include Warhol, an exhibition at the Tate Modern; and Rembrandt, The Young Rembrandt exhibition at Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
For something closer to home, The Sussex Guild Contemporary Craft Show runs six times a year. Although they’ve had to cancel their first two Craft Shows, they’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to Michelham Priory & Gardens from the 31st July-2nd August.
And if you still fancy the real thing?
Drive-In Me Crazy – presents Rock the Mote and Pop the Mote at Mote Park in Maidstone on the 1st August and 2nd August respectively. Some of the UK’s best Rock and Pop tribute bands will perform, whilst maintaining a safe event space and ensuring social distancing with minimal contact.
Finally, Kent Drive in Cinema kicks off on Monday 13th July at Swanley Park. There’s plenty to keep the kids entertained including Toy Story, Monsters Inc. and Lion King. For Mum and Dad, there are screenings of Dirty Dancing, A Star is Born and 1917. Kent Drive in Cinema will be visiting a number of locations throughout Kent this summer!
Things may not be back to normal quite yet, but you can rest assured that we have a fun-filled summer ahead of us. And with cinemas set to reopen in early July, we can look forward to enjoying the Big Screen once more.
