“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming service for live theater, announced today that their platform will become home to the renowned works of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). Beginning today, fans of Shakespeare will be able to enjoy the likes of Hamlet, directed by Simon Godwin and starring Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You); King Lear, directed by RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran and starring Olivier Award-winner Antony Sher; and The Merry Wives of Windsor directed by Fiona Laird, among others. Nine titles will debut on the service this month, with additional productions set to arrive on BroadwayHD in February and March.
The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theater at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. They produce an inspirational artistic program each year, setting Shakespeare in context, alongside the work of his contemporaries and today’s writers. The company has trained generations of the very best theater-makers and continues to nurture the talent of the future. All productions begin life at Stratford workshops and theaters and then are brought to the widest possible audience through touring, residencies, live broadcasts, and online activity.
Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, CEOs and co-founders of BroadwayHD said, “The Royal Shakespeare Company is truly one the most elite companies performing and reimagining Shakespeare’s works for new generations. We are proud to partner with them in bringing their iconic body of productions to theater lovers. Especially at this time when we don’t have the opportunity to travel or watch Shakespeare performed live, this collection is a treat beyond treats for fans.”
Gregory Doran, Artistic Director, Royal Shakespeare Company, said, “Nothing can replace the experience of seeing a play live on stage. But with our theatres currently closed, and all of us spending much more time at home, we are delighted to be working with BroadwayHD to give audiences around the world the chance to experience RSC productions from home. We have been filming all of our Shakespeare plays since 2013, broadcasting them into cinemas and to schools. Shakespeare speaks to us unlike any other writer, and this partnership with BroadwayHD will enable even more people to enjoy his work, bringing us together virtually at a time when many of us will be apart.”
The Royal Shakespeare Company titles debuting on the service this month include:
King Lear (2016) – Starring Olivier Award-winning actor Antony Sher and directed by RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, this production played at both the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Barbican, London as well as on screen in movie theaters worldwide. The production was also revived in 2018 for a short run at BAM in New York City.
Antony and Cleopatra (2017) – Directed by Iqbal Khan starring Award-Winning actress Josette Simon and Antony Byrne as the doomed lovers. Performed both at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Barbican, London.
Hamlet (2016) – Award-winning actor Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) played Hamlet in this Simon Godwin-directed production which premiered in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon in 2016. He then reprised the role for the 2018 UK tour and in Washington, DC.
Macbeth (2018) – Starring award-winning actors Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack, this production was directed by Polly Findlay.
Measure for Measure (2019) – Directed by Gregory Doran, he found contemporary resonance in this “problem play” through its links with the #MeToo movement.
Love’s Labour’s Lost (2014) – In 2014, Director Christopher Luscombe and the Royal Shakespeare Company paired Love’s Labour’s Lost with Love’s Labour’s Won (Much Ado About Nothing). The action took place either side of World War One and both productions featured the same company of actors and a shared set based on Charlecote Park, the National Trust stately home near Stratford-upon-Avon.
The Merry Wives of Windsor (2018) – A modern take on the beloved play directed by Fiona Laird.
Two Gentlemen of Verona (2014) – In July 2014, Simon Godwin, now Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington DC, made his RSC debut directing Shakespeare’s exuberant romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. It was the first time in 45 years that The Two Gentlemen of Verona had been performed in a full production on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage. The modern dress production was broadcast live into cinemas worldwide in September 2014 and was also streamed into schools.
Timon of Athons (2018) – In this 2018 production directed by Simon Godwin, Kathryn Hunter took the title role of Timon, switching the gender of the central character.
Close to 20 additional titles are set to debut on BroadwayHD between February and March including Romeo and Juliet, Othello, The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and The Taming of the Shrew among others.
BroadwayHD introduces award-winning theater from all across the globe with both classic and modern productions. Fans can expect to see the full works of Shakespeare, awe-inspiring performances from Cirque du Soleil and a selection of the world’s greatest musical including Kinky Boots, Cats, 42nd Street, She Loves Me, The Phantom of The Opera, The King and I, Sound of Music, and An American in Paris. All performances are adapted specifically for streaming audiences to maximize the entertainment experience.