David Farnor | On 06, Sep 2016

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will stream live around the world for free this month, as part of the online Shakespeare Lives festival.

The final night of the Bollywood-infused production, which has wowed critics and played to sold-out audiences at the Bankside theatre in London, will be streamed live on the Shakespeare Lives website on Sunday 11th September from 6.30pm. It is the first time any production has been live-streamed from Shakespeare’s Globe.

Introduced by actress and comedian Meera Syal, the show will be available on-demand on the Shakespeare Lives digital platform, which can be accessed anywhere in the world, as well as on BBC iPlayer for viewers in the UK.

As part of the build-up to the live performance, presenter Lindsey Chapman will take audiences on an access all-areas tour, exploring the inner workings of the faithfully reconstructed Elizabethan theatre. In a series of live broadcasts on social media, Lindsey will speak to the cast and crew behind the production and find out what goes into running the world famous venue.

Cortina Butler, Director Shakespeare Lives, says: “We’re delighted to play a part in making it possible for a truly international audience to experience a magical, modern production from Shakespeare’s Globe. Our unique digital partnership with the BBC and leading cultural organisations from the UK, has been a highlight of our year-long Shakespeare Lives programme.”

Emma Rice, Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe, says: “I’m thrilled that my first production at the Globe is being filmed by the BBC in this innovative and energetic way with the British Council. I can’t wait to see the live broadcast as it captures the joyous spirit of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – my love letter to Shakespeare and The Globe!

“I am especially delighted to think that this landmark broadcast will reach even more people than we can fit in the Globe over an entire summer season – especially when we have been sold-out for weeks and have queues round the building wanting to share the love!”

It follows a string of digital theatre releases to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death, including the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Richard II, with David Tennant, and Talawa Theatre’s King Lear, with Don Warrington in the lead role. So far, the two plays, combined with the online festival’s other content, have attracted more than a million people to the site since April.

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