How To Keep Your Theatre Fix: The Best Shows To Watch Online In November

England has gone into another lockdown. This meant that a host of amazing shows that were due to open this month have unfortunately had their plans halted for the time being. As devastating as that is, that doesn't mean we have to go without in November. As well as all the existing content available for us to consume, there are some fantastic new shows happening online throughout the month. So read on to see what you can watch throughout the next four weeks

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY - Friday 6th November

WHAT?

A routine that got us all through the first lockdown was the weekly The Shows Must Go On title every Friday. They will be continuing this series starting with From Here To Eternity. Following the lives and loves of a group of soldiers stationed on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in 1941, before and during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour which led to the US engagement in the Second World War, this was filmed during its West End run in 2013.

WHEN?

Catch it on Friday 6th November at 7pm for 48 hours only

WHERE?

It will be available on youtube.com/theshowsmustgoon

BANDSTAND - Friday 6th - Wednesday 11th November

WHAT?

The story of a group of veterans returning home to the United States after World War 2, Bandstand was filmed during its Broadway run and stars Laura Osnes and Beth Leavel

WHEN?

It is available to stream on Friday 6th, Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th and Wednesday 11th November at 7.30pm each night.

WHERE?

Purchase your stream at https://www.stream.theatre/home from just £5

THE SETH CONCERT SERIES - Every Sunday/Monday from 8th November

WHAT?

Seth Rudetsky has been entertaining us with his weekly concert series for most of the year now. He has no shortage of massive Broadway stars joining him for each one and the lineup for November is especially exciting kicking off with star of Beautiful and Waitress Jessie Mueller.

WHEN?

Each show premieres on the Sunday at 8pm ET which is 1am in the UK and is repeated on the Monday at 3pm ET which is 8pm in the UK.

November 8th/9th - Jessie Mueller

November 15th/16th - Lillias White

November 22nd/23rd - Adam Pascal

November 29th/30th - Patti Murin & Colin Donnell

WHERE?

Tickets cost $25 and are available from https://thesethconcertseries.com/

THE SHOWS MUST GO ON SHAKESPEARE SEASON - Every Monday

WHAT?

The Shows Must Go On is doubling its offering this month with a special Shakespeare season. Every Monday a new show will be uploaded to its YouTube channel and will be available to view for 7 days. The series kicked off this week with Simon Callow in Being Shakespeare, available to watch until Monday 9th November.

WHEN?

Every Monday at 7pm a new show is uploaded.

November 9th - Richard III

November 16th - Macbeth

November 23rd - Shakespearean Sonnets

WHERE?

Catch them on youtube.com/theshowsmustgoon

EMILIA - Tuesday 10th November

WHAT?

Emilia won the hearts of many when it played at the Vaudeville Theatre last year. Now, an archive recording is being streamed for the first time. Dramatising the life and career of 17th Century poet Emilia Bassano, the play celebrates the voice of women.

WHEN?

The play premieres on Tuesday 10th November at where you can watch the show live with the cast and crew online. The play will then stay online until the 24th.

WHERE?

The show can be purchased online on a special Pay What You Can scheme, starting from just £1. Get yours at https://www.emilialive.com/

[title of show] - Thursday 12th - Saturday 14th November

WHAT?

[title of show] is a musical about writing a musical. The latest from Lambert Jackson Productions who have kept us all going with brilliant virtual showings of First Date, Songs For A New World and The Last Five Years in recent months, this show stars Marc Elliot and Tyrone Huntley as two writers who recruit Jenna Russell, Lucie Jones and Ben Ferguson to help them write a show in three weeks, this show promises to be full of comedy and fantastic songs.

WHEN?

The show will be streamed for three performances only from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November at 7.30pm each evening.

WHERE?

Tickets can be purchased from https://londoncoliseum.org/whats-on/title-of-show/ costing £14.75

SHOWSTOPPER - Monday 16th & 30th November

WHAT?

Due to make their eagerly awaited return to the West End on Monday 16th, lockdown shot those plans down. Never ones to be downhearted, The Showstoppers regrouped and instead decided to bring their first two scheduled shows online for livestreams instead. If you have never watched one of their shows before, where have you been? The unscripted show will see the group improv their way through an unknown story with an unknown title with some unknown musical themes. The decisions of all of this come from the audience who will suggest what show they should perform at home.

WHEN?

Catch them on Monday 16th and Monday 30th November at 7.30pm

WHERE?

Tickets are from £8.35 and can be purchased here

OUT OF THE DARKNESS, INTO THE SPOTLIGHT - Wednesday 18th & 25th November

WHAT?

West End performer Hiba Elchikhe is collaborating with Nimax and The Theatre Cafe to bring a brand new musical theatre series Out Of The Darkness, Into The Spotlight. The three part series shines a spotlight on three different things: Everybody's Talking About Jamie (where the title for the series comes from), musical theatre and Christmas. Hiba will be joined by a glittering lineup including Carrie Hope Fletcher, Courtney Bowman, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Liam Tamne, Rob Houchen and Danielle Steers.

WHEN?

Episode 1: A Spotlight on Jamie debuts on Wednesday 18th November, episode 2: A spotlight on Musical theatre follows on the 25th with the final episode arriving next month.

WHERE?

Tickets cost £9 or £25 for all 3 and can be purchased at https://www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/shop/

THE POLTERGEIST - Friday 20th - Saturday 21st November

WHAT?

Southwark Playhouse are keeping theatre content going while their doors are shut with this online stream of The Poltergeist. A darkly comic new play from Philip Ridley, this play is about art, family, memory and being haunted by the life we never lived.

WHEN?

The show takes place for three streams on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November at 7.30pm with a matinee at 3pm on the Saturday

WHERE?

Tickets cost £10 if you book before Monday 16th November, £15 after and can be purchased from https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show/the-poltergeist/

THE LAST FIVE YEARS - Thursday 26th - Sunday 29th November

WHAT?

The Last Five Years has been a prominent title this year - the perfect show to perform with social distancing, we have seen versions online and in person. The definitive version for me is this years production at Southwark Playhouse which has had two runs, both tragically cut short due to the pandemic. During its most recent run, the show was recorded and will now be streamed online later this month. Watch it and find out why this is my favourite show of the year.

WHEN?

The show will be available to stream from Thursday 26th until Saturday 28th November at 7.30pm each night with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm, and at 5.00pm on Sunday 29th November.

WHERE?

Tickets cost £15 and are available from https://www.stream.theatre

THE THEATRE CHANNEL EPISODE 3 - Friday 27th November

WHAT?

The first two episodes of The Theatre Channel have been nothing short of spectacular. Episode 3 is a rock special and will include Shan Ako singing 'I'll Cover You (Reprise)' from Rent, Rob Houchen singing 'Gethsemene' from Jesus Christ Superstar and Francesca Jackson singing 'Forgiven' from Jagged Little Pill.

WHEN?

The episode will be released on Friday 27th November and will be available to watch an unlimited number of times when purchased.

WHERE?

Tickets cost £12 and are available from https://www.thetheatrecafe.co.uk/channel/

RENT - From Friday 27th November

WHAT?

One of the most exciting shows this year was the new production of Rent at the Hope Mill Theatre. Featuring an incredible cast including Blake Patrick Anderson, Alex Thomas Smith, Millie O'Connell and Maiya Quansah-Breed, the show only managed to get a few performances in before lockdown forced it to shut prematurely. Luckily, the planned recording was completed before this and will be ready to stream later this month.

WHEN?

The first stream takes place on Friday 27th November at 7.30pm with further dates available until Sunday 20th December.

WHERE?

Tickets cost £25 and are available from https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/rent-online

Even without physical theatre to go to, we are still spoiled with a lot of titles this month. What are you planning to watch? Let me know at twitter.com/ATDazzles.

Hopefully my December preview will include online shows as well as ones in person when theatres open their doors again.