You might be finding that now, while in self-isolation, is the perfect time to break the spines of the books you bought years ago but never got the chance to read, or cross off a few titles from your must-watch list. As it turns out, it might also be a good time to catch some high-end theatre.
Several theatres have chosen to keep their shows going even though they have had to temporarily close their physical venues. Here are some of the best ways to watch theatre online from the comfort and safety of your own home. From Broadway and West End shows to works by up-and-coming playwrights and even a Shakespeare play in Arabic, they’re all for free and available to stream.
National Theatre
London's National Theatre has an archive that is a theatregoer's goldmine. It includes some of the best recordings of stage shows around, and in cinema quality. The theatre broadcasts its shows to venues around the world, including Dubai's Courtyard Playhouse, as part of its NT Live programming. But with such venues shut down, the theatre has turned to YouTube.
Every Thursday a new National Theatre show will be released on the platform and will be available to stream for one week. Each play comes with some bonus content, including talks and Q&A sessions with the cast and crew.
The first show to be released on the National Theatre's YouTube channel is the comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, which will be available to watch until Wednesday, April 8. The play, written by Richard Bean, is set in Brighton in 1963, and is an adaptation of Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni's comedy The Servant of Two Masters.
The stage adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, written by Sally Cookson, will be released next, on Thursday, April 9. Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, adapted for the stage by Bryony Lavery, will premiere on Thursday, April 16, followed by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night on Thursday, April 23.
Shakespeare’s Globe
The legendary playhouse is another UK theatre offering high-quality content online for free, and in more than 30 languages.
Every fortnight a new full-length English-language Shakespeare play will be available to watch on the theatre's streaming platform, Globe Player. The series starts with a 2018 production of Hamlet, which runs from Monday to Sunday, April 6 to 19, after which Romeo and Juliet will be screened, from Monday April 20 to to Sunday May 3.
Also, every production from the theatre's Globe to Globe series will be made available until Sunday, June 28, including a Korean production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, an Armenian production of King John, a Yoruba rendition of Winter's Tale and Richard II in Arabic.
For the full list of shows, visit www.globeplayer.tv
Schaubuhne am Lehniner Platz
The famous Berlin theatre is now opening its virtual doors to audiences for free. Every night, from 8.30pm to 2am, a different play from the venue’s vault will be available to stream.
So if you’re up for a late-night dive into some of the most bold and extraordinary productions to have hit the stage, the Schaubuhne am Lehniner Platz's collection is what you’re looking for.
Most of its recent productions stream with English subtitles. But don’t overlook the ones that don’t because honestly, they are a visual spectacle, even if you can’t keep track of everything that’s going on.
For the Disconnected Child, written and directed by Falk Richter, is set to be available for streaming tonight, Sunday, April 5, whereas Art by Yasmina Reza is scheduled for Monday, April 6.
For a detailed look at the schedule, visit: www.schaubuehne.de
Hampstead Theatre
The Hampstead Theatre in London, which specialises in commissions and producing works by up-and-coming playwrights, has long been at the forefront of off-West-End theatre.
The venue has been making new plays available to watch for free online for some time now, but is still worth a mention for its spotlight on contemporary works.
Now streaming on the theatre's website is Wild by Mike Bartlett, which tells the story of Andrew as he goes from discussing apartments and making plans for the future with his partner, to being on the run in Moscow and at risk of an assassination. The play is inspired by the life of Edward Snowden and will be available to stream until tonight, Sunday, April 5.
Beth Steel's Wonderland – a play about the UK miners' strike of 1984 – will be available to watch next, from Monday to Sunday, April 6 to 12.
BroadwayHD
OK, so this is not technically free, but you can make good use of the streaming platform's week-long free trial. With its slick user interface and easy-to-navigate categories, it's basically the Netflix of Broadway and features classics such as Oklahoma and Putting It Together, as well as An American in Paris, Kinky Boots, and Death of a Salesman.
If you choose to continue after your free trial ends, you’ll have to purchase a monthly subscription for $9 (Dh33) or pay $100 for yearly access (Dh367).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Chelsea 2 Burnley 3
Chelsea Morata (69'), Luiz (88')
Burnley Vokes (24', 43'), Ward (39')
Red cards Cahill, Fabregas (Chelsea)
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Result
Tottenhan Hotspur 2 Roma 3
Tottenham: Winks 87', Janssen 90 1'
Roma 3
D Perotti 13' (pen), C Under 70', M Tumminello 90 2"
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
8.15pm Mulfit
8.50pm Gronkowski
9.25pm Walking Thunder
10pm Midnight Sands
RESULT
Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg
Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
