Where to Stream Theatre Content
Listed by Musical Theatre, Plays, Opera, Independent Theatre, Arts Culture and Concerts, Pop-Up Livestreams
Musical Theatre
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Amazon
Search "live musicals" on AmazonPrime, and you can find many filmed live musical titles including Spongebob, Newsies, and RENT: Filmed Live on Broadway. Subscription Cost: Varies - some are included with an AmazonPrime subscription, some are available to rent or buy Where to Watch: www.amazon.com |
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The Bonfire
Founded by director Adam Lenson, a new online platform based in the UK for new musical theatre. On their YouTube channel, Signal, you can watch a multitude of videos of new musical theatre works all filmed in London. Subscription Cost: free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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BroadwayHD
Founded in 2015 by Broadway producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, BroadwayHD aims to provide “the best of Broadway and beyond!” The service currently has over 50 filmed live musicals in the catalogue, with content from Broadway, off-Broadway, the West End, and regional American performances. Other content includes documentaries, plays, Cirque du Soleil, theatre in languages other than English, and concerts. Some titles can also be accessed through an Amazon Prime subscription. Subscription Cost: $8.99/month or $99.99/1 year Free Trial: 7 days Where to Watch: BroadwayHD website |
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Broadway on Demand
Launched in 2020, the new streaming service has a range of theatre related content including original series, educational content, and filmed live productions. Subscription Cost: Some content is free, and select titles are available to rent on demand for a small fee Where to Watch: Broadway on Demand |
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Cennariam
Founded in 2014 by Brazilian producer Harry Fernandes, Cennariam offers “Performing arts from around the world in high definition for you to watch anytime, from anywhere.” The site currently has 10 musicals on offer, and claims to be adding new content every week. Titles include Dangerous Liasions, Debussy Alone on Stage, and Tanguera, the Argentine Musical. Most musicals are in languages other than English with subtitles. In addition to musical theatre, Cennariam offers circus, comedy, concerts, dance, documentary, drama, interviews, and opera. Subscription Cost: US$9.97/month or $95.64/1 year Free Trial: 10 days Where to Watch: Cennarium website (some productions are also available on Amazon Prime in the US). |
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Digital Theatre
Founded in 2009 by British entrepreneurs Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw, Digital Theatre is a leader in providing on-demand theatre content. The site currently has 5 filmed live musicals, including the Regent’s Park Open Air production of Into the Wood, two in-development Perfect Pitch productions, and a new musical, Pieces of String. Other theatre content includes productions from the RSC, Stage Russia, and content from the West End and across the United Kingdom. Subscription Cost: £9.99/month, or rent individual productions for £7.99 Free Trial Offer: 9 days for educational institutions Where to Watch: Digital Theatre website |
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Great Performances on PBS
The multi-award winning PBS television program Great Performances specializes in showcasing performing arts from around the world. Current musicals include the Broadway production of Holiday Inn, and the West End productions of 42nd Street, Kinky Boots, The King and I, and An American in Paris. Other content includes concerts, plays, and documentaries. Subscription Cost: $5/month or $60/annual Free Trial: n/a Where to Watch: Great Performances website |
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Kanopy
Founded in 2007 by Australian entrepreneur Olivia Humphrey, Kanopy partners with universities and public libraries to provide free movie streaming. There are over 30 movie musicals currently available through the site, though no filmed live musicals. In addition to a wide range of cinema titles (including 400 titles from the Criterion Collection), there is plenty of theatre content, including Shakespeare, Chekhov, and productions from Stage Russia. Subscription Cost: free with a library card Where to Watch: Kanopy (To find theatre content, go to Browse: The Arts: Performing Arts: Theatre Performance) |
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Living Room Concerts (BroadwayWorld)
Hosted by BroadwayWorld in response to the COVID-19 shutdown, Living Room Concerts feature Broadway actors performing songs from their living rooms. Subscription Cost: free Where to Watch: BroadwayWorld |
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Musical Theatre Factory
A non-profit founded in 2014 "dedicated to developing musical theatre artists and presenting new work in a collaborative atmosphere free from the pressures of critical or commercial success." MTF's YouTube channel provides clips and playlists from concert readings of new work presented at Joe's Pub. The company is also providing new content on Facebook. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube and Facebook |
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Perfect Pitch
A UK theatre company dedicated to creating and developing new British musicals. Their YouTube channel features previews and clips of new works, and select full works can be found on Digital Theatre. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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Scenesaver
Launched in 2020 by Royal Central School of Speech and Drama alum Caroline Friedman, the new streaming service aims to provide online access to off-West End and regional productions. All productions are available for free (donations are strongly encouraged, and are distributed to the artists), and many productions include subtitles. Subscription Cost: free (donations strongly encouraged) Where to Watch: www.scenesaver.co.uk |
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The Shows Must Go On!
Launched by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber in direct response to COVID-19, the new YouTube channel will stream a musical from Lloyd Webber's extensive catalogue every week. The titles will be released on Fridays at 7pm (British time) and will be available on demand for 48 hours. Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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StageIt
Platform for artists to livestream concerts for a paying audience. During COVID, being used by performers like Shoshana Bean, Telly Leung, Alice Ripley, and Ann Harada! Subscription Cost: Per show. Ranges from $5 - $20. Where to Watch: StageIt website |
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Streaming Musicals
Founded by Paul Gordon (composer of Daddy Long Legs), Tom Polum and Stacia Fernandez, the platform was launched in 2018. The catalog currently includes one filmed live musical, Pride and Prejudice, and several "soundstage musicals", a hybrid between a film and stage musical filmed without an audience. Cost: Per show. Rentals start at $4.99 Where to Watch: Streaming Musicals |
Plays
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Audible
In 2018, Audible branched out from audiobooks and started recording plays and one-person shows including John Lithgow's Stories by Heart and Lauren Gunderson's astonishing play The Half Life of Marie Curie. Subscription Cost: $14.95/month Free Trial: 30 days Where to Listen: Audible website |
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Australian National Theatre Live
Commercial and independent theatre filmed live in Australia. Currently has a limited range on-demand content available for free on Vimeo. Subscription Cost: Some free content, $1.99 for new titles during COVID-19 Where to Watch: Vimeo |
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National Theatre
Based in London, the world renowned National Theatre develops a wide range of theatre that aims to reach the widest possible audience. Starting on April 2, the company is releasing a play a week on YouTube. Announced titles include One Man, Two Guvnors starring James Corden, Jane Eyre, Treasure Island, and Twelfth Night. Cost: free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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Royal Shakespeare Company
The RSC's YouTube channel features previews, scenes, rehearsal clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from company productions. Select productions will also be broadcast on the BBC. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
A range of plays by Shakespeare, and other new works, filmed predominantly at the famous Globe Theatre in London. Subscription Cost: rent individual titles - £4.99, purchase individual titles - £12.99 Where to Watch: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre website |
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Arte
A French-German company co-funded by the European Union that provides music concerts, opera, and performing arts content on free-to-air television and online. Content is available in French, German, English, Spanish, Polish, and Italian, with subtitles. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: Arte Website |
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Met Opera on Demand
A leader in filmed live performance and livestreams, New York City's Met Opera has been releasing high quality digital captures of its performances since 2006. The Met Opera on Demand catalog now boasts over 700 titles. In response to the theatre shutdown during the COVID pandemic, The Met will be providing nightly free streams. Subscription Cost: Free nightly streams during COVID, $14.99/month or $149/annual (current $150+ members: $99/annual) Free Trial: 7 days Where to Watch: Met Opera website |
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OperaVision
Supported by the European Union's Creative Europe programme, OperaVision provides content from 17 countries across Europe, both livestreamed and on-demand. Cost: Free Where to Watch: OperaVision website |
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The Paris Opera
During the COVID-19 shutdown, the Paris Opera will be streaming a range of performances, including Don Giovanni, Swan Lake, Tribute to Jerome Robbins, Carmen, and a Cycle of Tchaikovsky's six symphonies. Viewers can also take a virtual tour of the gorgeous Paris Opera House via the official website. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Paris Opera website |
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Accidental Theatre
A small independent theatre in the heart of Belfast. The company regularly livestreams its productions, scratch nights, readings, and meetings, via Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch, as part of its mission to reach a wider audience. Subscription Cost: Free (accepts donations) Where to Watch: Accidental Theatre website |
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Belarus Free Theatre
Founded by political refugees in Minsk in 2005, the company is dedicated to creating politically and socially charged work. From April 4th, BFT will make full-length productions available via YouTube. Works are performed predominantly in Russian, with English subtitles. Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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Bristol Old Vic
Built in 1766, the Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continuously working theatre in the English speaking world. The company aims to create experimental new work, and make theatre as accessible as possible. During the COVID-19 shutdown, the Bristol Old Vic is providing online content in the form of children's programming through the Family Arts Hub, an Open Stage platform for people to submit their own stories, and from May, 2020, the Bristol Arts Channel which will feature past productions. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Bristol Old Vic website |
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Classic Stage Company
Founded in 1967, CSC aims to reimagine classic stories for contemporary audiences. During the COVID-19 shutdown, CSC will be live-streaming weekly conversations with cast members and artistic director John Doyle. Conversations are available to view afterwards on Instagram TV. Thursdays, 6pm EST Cost: Free Where to Watch: Facebook or YouTube |
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Clown Funeral
A UK-based physical theatre company that creates "darkly comic shows exploring human corners of inhuman worlds." Cost: Free Where to watch: YouTube |
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Ensemble Theatre
Based in Cleveland, the Ensemble Theatre have been providing live-streams of classic plays, readings of new plays, and open mic nights via Vimeo's LiveStream for the past 5 years. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Ensemble Theatre LiveStream |
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Folksbiene! Live - National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene
Based in New York City, NYTF is is the longest continuously producing Yiddish theatre company in the world. The company most recently produced the highly successful revival of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, directed by Joel Grey. During COVID-19 the company will be livestreaming theatre, talkbacks, and lectures. In Yiddish and English. Cost: Free Where to Watch: NYTF website |
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Hamsptead Theatre
Now in its 60th year, the London-based theatre aims to "create original theatre without creative restriction". In partnership with The Guardian newspaper, the company have launched Hampstead Theatre At Home, with full-length plays released for free online for a limited time. Currently announced titles include Mike Bartlett's Wild, Beth Steel's Wonderland, and Howard Brenton's Drawing the Line. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Hampstead Theatre at Home |
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Irish Repertory Theatre
Founded in NYC in 1988, the Irish Repertory Theatre aims to "provide a context for understanding the contemporary Irish-American experience through evocative works of theater, music, and dance." During the COVID-19 shutdown, company members are sharing songs, monologues, and poems by Irish and Irish American artists. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube |
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Know Theatre of Cincinnati
Know Theatre began as a touring theatre company in 1997, performing original collaborative work. After producing several seasons in a community performance space in a church basement, Know Theatre moved to its current residence at 1120 Jackson Street. The company still tours its Theatre for Young Audiences program under the banner Know To Go. During COVID-19, Know To Go is expanding its reach online. Currently scheduled production Alabaster is available to stream. Cost: $5 - $25 per production Where to Watch: Know Theatre website |
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La Jolla Playhouse
Founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, the La Jolla Playhouse is a Tony Award winning venue that has become a prominent breeding ground for new works. During the COVID-19 shutdown, La Jolla Playhouse has launched a series of online programs, including WOW Online (an interactive digital media festival), LJP Vault, Deep Cuts (artists sharing material that was cut from musicals), and craft activities. Cost: Free Where to Watch: La Jolla Playhouse website |
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La MaMa
Based in NYC, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club is dedicated to creating new work that takes risks. Content includes "Downtown Variety," a weekly stream featuring dance, performance art, and digital media, selections from Re-Fest 2020, and full streams of recent productions. La MaMa Live Talks, Wednesdays @ 6.30pm EST Downtown Variety, Fridays @ 8pm EST Cost: Free Where to watch: Facebook |
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Melbourne Shakespeare Company
Formed in 2016, this fledgling Australian theatre company is dedicated to performing works by Shakespeare. Commencing March 30, sonnets performed by company members will be streamed daily on Facebook. Daily sonnets, 6pm AEST Cost: Free Where to Watch: Facebook |
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National Sawdust
Based in Brooklyn, National Sawdust aims to present ground-breaking work rooted in music discovery. During COVID-19, the company is presenting Live@NationalSawdust with weekly releases of content from the past 5 seasons. Cost: free Where to watch: National Sawdust |
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National Theatre Wales
Based in Cardiff, National Theatre Wales works across Wales in the creation of new works. The company is guided by the pursuit of social justice – locally, nationally and globally, politically, financially and culturally. During the COVID-19 shutdown, the company is launching Network, a digital platform for artists to create new work in direct response to the crisis. Currently accepting submissions for 12 plays for "the digital stage." Cost: TBA Where to Watch: National Theatre Wales website |
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New Victory Theater
Founded in 1995, this multi-disciplinary venue is New York City’s first and only nonprofit performing arts venue for kids and families. During COVID-19, the theatre is presenting New Victory Arts Breaks, 20-30minute videos led by New Victory Teaching Artists. Each week is presented with a new theme, including Percussion, Puppetry, Movement, and Magic, and Juggling. Cost: Free Where to Watch: New Victory Theater website |
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New York City Center
Founded in 1943, New York City Center aims to "make the best performing arts accessible to all." During the COVID-19 shutdown, the company is presenting "Encores! Archives," a song-a-day from their musical theatre vault. Each week will feature a different focus, including composers, era, and performers. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube |
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Notflix
An all-female improv comedy troupe that perform improvised musicals inspired by audience suggested movies. The troupe will livestream 3 shows during COVID, with the first scheduled to take place on March 29 at 7.30pm (GMT). Cost: free Where to watch: Facebook Live |
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Open Clasp Theatre Company
A British theatre company that creates work with disadvantaged and marginalized women. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Open Clasp website |
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Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Founded in 1935, the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the oldest and largest professional non-profit theatres in the United States. Initially slated to launch in 2021, the company have released their online platform O to provide content during the COVID-19 shutdown. Cost: Free Where to Watch: O Platform |
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Peeping Tom
Belgian theatre company Peeping Tom creates a wide range of original works whose style is defined by "a hyperrealistic aesthetic anchored to a concrete set." Cost: free Where to watch: Vimeo |
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Prima
Founded in 2010, this theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is dedicated to "dedicated to producing fresh theatrical experiences that invigorate lives." In response to COVID-19 the theatre launched "At Home," an online series of concerts and theatre including new musicals Calling All Kates and Drift. Cost: donation (min. $10) Where to Watch: Prima website |
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Relative Motion
A new British company offering the chance to experience theatre in virtual reality! All you need is your computer or smart phone, and a VR headset. Currently offering Tosca VR and Shakespeare VR. Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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The Tank
Based in NYC, The Tank aims to provide a safe space, and reduce economic barriers, for emerging artists to create and develop new works. During COVID-19, the company is presenting Cabaret on the Couch - a weekly cabaret, and CyberTank - a weekly discussion forum. Cost: Free Where to Watch: CyberTank |
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Theatre Uncut
Established by Hannah Price in 2011 in response to public spending cuts in the UK, the company commissions short plays by new and established writers that aim to take on political and social issues. In order to engage audiences with the plays, the works are released rights free for performance any where in the world. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Theatre Uncut website |
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Theater Wit
Founded in 2004, Theater Wit is a Chicago-based theatre company staging plays and musicals. Currently scheduled production Teenage Dick is available to stream. Cost: $12-28 per production Where to Watch: Theater Wit website |
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Third Angel
Established in the UK in 1995, the company makes an eclectic range of "extraordinary performance." Cost: Free Where to Watch: Third Angel website |
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Tim Crouch Theatre
Award-winning British theatre artist Tim Crouch writes and produces work that explores the desire to tell stories and explore different forms. He has collaborated with the RSC, Royal Court Theatre, and various festivals including the Singapore Arts Festival and Culturgest in Lisbon. Cost: free Where to watch: Vimeo and YouTube |
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Williamstown Theatre Festival
Founded in 1955, this Tony Award winning festival presents a variety of plays, musicals, and theatrical works every summer in the Berkshires. Unable to go ahead in 2020 due to COVID-19, the festival will be releasing all 7 of its scheduled productions on Audible. Cost: TBA Where to Watch: Audible (release dates TBA) |
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YesYesNoNo
Founded by Sam Ward and Rhian Davies, YesYesNoNo creates theatre "that explores what connection might look like in a digital world." The company will be streaming select performances, rehearsals, and other content via Crowdcast throughout 2020. Cost: £6 per production Where to watch: Crowdcast |
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Young Jean Lee's Theater Company
Young Jean Lee, the first female Asian American playwright to be produced on Broadway, has made her 2011 play "We're Gonna Die" available to stream via her website. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Young Jean Lee's Theater Company Archive |
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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey, the company is one of the leading modern dance ensembles in the United States. During COVID-19, the company will stream full-length videos of previous productions. First stream is set for March 30 at 7pm. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Alvin Ailey website |
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Arts Centre Melbourne
One of Australia's largest performing arts precincts, Arts Centre Melbourne is host to the Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. During COVID-19, the centre is streaming a variety of content including concerts, cabaret, music, and dance. Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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The Australian Ballet
Formed in 1962, and headquartered in Melbourne, The Australian Ballet has responded to COVID-19 by establishing "At Home with Ballet TV". Commencing April 4, full-length ballets performed by the company will be released online for free and made available for a few weeks. Announced titles include Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Romeo and Juliet. Cost: Free Where to Watch: The Australian Ballet website |
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BBC
The BBC has committed to airing "essential arts and culture service" across radio, television, and online platforms during COVID-19. Programming include a wide range of theatre, ballet, music, and art. Cost: Free Where to watch: BBC iplayer |
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Berliner Philharmoniker
Founded in 1882, the Berliner Philarhmoniker is one of the world's most renowned orchestras. During COVID-19, the company's vast digital archive is available for free (for a 30 day trial). You can also take a virtual tour of the Philharmonie Berlin. Cost: Free (30 day trial) Where to Watch: Berliner Philharmoniker website |
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Carnegie Hall
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Go to www.carnegiehall.org! The world-famous music venue is providing new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm EST featuring world renowned musicians in conversation, excerpts from past performances, and live performance. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Carnegie Hall website |
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Google Cultural Institute
Performing arts events, including music, opera, theatre, dance, and performance art, filmed in 360º. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: Google Cultural Institute |
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HowlRound
An open platform for theatremakers worldwide. In addition to written content and podcasts, the site features a wide range of free-to-access videos of theatre performances, readings, panels, and lectures from around the world. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: HowlRound website |
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Lincoln Center
During the COVID-19 shutdown, Lincoln Center is offering a diverse range of content online, including dance, chamber concerts, opera, and a daily "pop-up classroom". Cost: Free Where to Watch: Lincoln Center at Home |
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Live from Lincoln Center
Also available on free-to-air television, select titles from the Live from Lincoln Center catalog are available to stream online. Currently includes the New York Philharmonic's New Year's Eve concert "Celebrating Sondheim". Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: PBS website |
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Marquee TV
Ballet, opera, and theatre titles from around the world available to stream on demand. Includes productions from the Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Bolshoi, and Teatro Real. Subscription Cost: $8.99/month, $69.99/annual Free Trial: 30 days Where to Watch: Marquee TV website |
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NYC Arts
An eclectic weekly program featuring visual art, music concerts, ballet, and cultural events in New York City. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: NYC Arts website |
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On the Boards TV
Founded by Seattle theatre On the Boards, this online platform has captured over 60 "performance films" from around the world, just over half of which are available to stream. Until April 30, 2020, all streams are free with the code ARTATHOME20. Subscription Cost: free (until April 30 with code ARTATHOME20), normally $50/annual Where to Watch: On the Boards website |
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Royal Opera House
Situated in London's Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House is home to the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera. During COVID-19, the venue is releasing videos of full productions once a week on YouTube. Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |
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Sydney Opera House
The world famous Sydney Opera House is offering a wide array of digital content during COVID-19, including performances and concerts spanning pop, rock and classical, talks, dance, podcasts, and industry roundtables. You can even take a 360º tour of the Opera House. Programs will be aired daily at 6pm AEST, and some content is also be available on demand. Cost: Free Where to Watch: Sydney Opera House website |
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Theater Talk
Founded in 1993, Theater Talk features in-depth panel discussions with writers, actors, directors, and other theatre-makers. A wide range of episodes are freely available on YouTube. Subscription Cost: Free Where to Watch: YouTube |