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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
He played the Bard on Horrible Histories (“they call me Billy Whizz!”) and in the 2015 film Bill. But it wasn’t until almost a decade later that Mathew Baynton made his Shakespearean debut for the RSC in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He is playing Bottom again in the hit show’s London transfer at the Barbican until 18 January, when it becomes available to stream on MarqueeTV.
A Citizen of the People
“It’s an illusion to think that we can build a constitution so watertight that it can never be abused,” says legal journalist Maximilian Steinbeis whose play A Citizen of the People explores a populist leader’s disruptive rise. Staged in the Berlin media centre used by the German government, it is available from Arte with English subtitles.
Wicked: The Real Story
Maybe you’ve read the book, seen the musical, watched the film, streamed the soundtrack or just boggled at some of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s publicity tour highlights. If so, try this documentary about all things Wicked, featuring contributions from novelist Gregory Maguire and maestro Stephen Schwartz. On AppleTV+.
Hadestown: Live from London
Five years after its original Broadway cast recording, Anaïs Mitchell’s underworld musical – rapidly gaining its own mythical status – is now also available as sung by the West End cast. This new album was mostly recorded at the final matinee performance of Dónal Finn (Orpheus) and Grace Hodgett Young (Eurydice).
Prima Facie
Talk about star quality. Jodie Comer made one of the most striking West End debuts in recent years with her solo performance as a barrister in Suzie Miller’s drama about sexual assault. She returned to the play for an Audible version but her stage performance – which broke records for NT Live – is also available from National Theatre at Home until 5 March.
Mosaïk
It’s not just Olympians who feel pressure at the Games: consider French-Algerian hip-hop choreographer Mourad Merzouki who had the task of creating the official dance performance of the Paris competition. Marquee TV’s Mosaïk offers a primer on Merzouki’s style, featuring extracts from shows created for his company Käfig.
Lovesong
A bona fide weepie. Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett are masters of heartfelt movement and their choreography complements Abi Morgan’s tale of the 40-year union between Maggie and Billy, which delicately interweaves past and present. Filmed at Lyric Hammersmith in 2012, it is now available from Digital Theatre.
The Grapes of Wrath
“I’ve done my damndest to rip a reader’s nerves to rags,” observed John Steinbeck of his sprawling 1939 Pulitzer winner about migrant workers. In Carrie Cracknell’s Lytellton production, now on National Theatre at Home, Cherry Jones excels as matriarch Ma Joad and Maimuna Memon captures the atmosphere with her original song, We Are the People.
Boxed In
Ever been put on the naughty list without understanding why? Disabled-led company Daryl & Co and Half Moon theatre’s 45-minute co-production for children aged three to six is a thoughtful, non-verbal show about navigating day-to-day rules and the boxes we are all put in. Rent on Vimeo.
Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night falls on 5 January but wait until the end of the month and you can celebrate with the Orange Tree’s production of Shakespeare’s bittersweet romcom, transposed to the 1940s. Sex Education’s Patricia Allison is Viola, Jane Asher is Maria and Oliver Ford Davies plays Malvolio. Available 28-31 January.
