The Bard goes online, for free, on the Globe Player.
The Globe may have joined the West End and The Old Vic in shutting their doors, but there are still ways to get your fill of Shakespeare during our current period of quarantine. The famed wooden O has been recording their productions for years, and as right now, you’re able to stream some of these iconic performances, for free, on their Globe Player. (Featured image: @the_globe)
The free shows kicked off with an incredible production of the tragic play Hamlet, starring none other than Globe Artistic Director Michelle Terry in the title role. Now, Romeo and Juliet has become the next production to head online, streaming free until May 3. It’s the 2009 Globe production, in which Dominic Dromgoole directed Ellie Kendrick as Juliet and Adetomiwa Edun as Romeo, to plenty of warm reviews.
The star-crossed lovers aren’t the only ones heading to Globe Player, as Romeo and Juliet will be followed by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, The Two Noble Kinsmen, and finally, The Merry Wives of Windsor. They’ll arrive fortnightly, and each of these performances will be available for free for a fortnight on the Globe Player.
In addition, all of the productions from the Globe to Globe series will also be available for free. As will a new series, called ‘Shakespeare & Love in Isolation’ , which will feature isolating artists sharing Shakespeare’s words and a special celebration on April 23rd, the Bard’s Birthday, from the legendary Mark Rylance.
With love, solidarity and thanks to you all from the whole Globe family ⭕
“WHEN we meet again, why, we shall smile” pic.twitter.com/RQuEqBBLAG
— Shakespeare’s Globe (@The_Globe) March 18, 2020
Obviously, you can still explore the entire oeuvre of Shakespeare’s works (save for the likes of Pericles and Timon of Athens), on the Globe Player, with productions spanning across the last decade or so. The plays not appearing for free are currently available to rent or buy, and with rental costs starting at £4.99, it’s no more than the cost of a standing ticket to The Globe.
Plus, there are loads of documentaries, music and a snippets of content for you to get lost in: plenty to keep you entertained during this pandemic. Since The Globe’s summer season was just around the corner, a prolonged closure is likely to be very tough on the iconic theatre – so any support, be it by renting a production, or simply donating something to the theatre itself, would be incredibly welcome.
All the world’s a stage, Shakespeare wrote, and since you can now turn your bedroom into the theatre, that’s never been more true…
See all content on the Globe Player here.