Electric Stage
Dom Coyote says “electronics, acoustics, voice and story collide” in his compositions for theatre. His new album spans 10 years of work and includes music from productions of Dawn King’s Addictive Beat (the ethereal, insistent Sleep Dancers), Carol Ann Duffy’s Everyman (What’s God Like, a Jacob’s Ladder-inspired loop) and Jude Christian’s Hamlet (the initially chilly Ophelia, which warms up with sounds of the natural world). It’s spellbinding stuff – available on Bandcamp.
Ballad Lines
Finn Anderson and Tania Azevedo’s acclaimed folk musical explores the Scottish and Irish roots of Appalachian song through one family’s history. A “full-throated” production continues at Southwark Playhouse Elephant in London this month, but the full album is on Spotify.
Incident at Vichy
Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy makes a fascinating companion piece to his play about Kristallnacht, Broken Glass, currently revived at London’s Young Vic. Set four years later in 1942, it follows a group of detained, mostly Jewish men waiting to be interviewed. The 2015 revival at Signature theatre in New York is on BroadwayHD.
Funny Women: Prunella Scales
Filmed in 1998, this BBC profile of the late Prunella Scales focuses on her TV roles but has some fascinating material about her theatrical career, including footage of her rehearsing Pinter’s The Birthday Party with students, and her thoughts on why she became classified as a “character actress” for her looks. On iPlayer.
Dance of Death
The Orange Tree theatre in Richmond pits Lisa Dillon and Will Keen against each other as the stupendously unhappy married couple in August Strindberg’s play, newly translated and directed by Richard Eyre. Available on demand, 10-13 March.
Into the Woods
The Bridge in London has a triumphant new staging of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fabulous fairytale musical. But here’s a chance to go “into the park” with Timothy Sheader’s 2010 outdoor revival. Starring Hannah Waddingham as the Witch, it cast a spell at Regent’s Park Open Air theatre. On BroadwayHD.
Loving You: The Untold Sondheim
In the mood for more Sondheim? This podcast tribute features friends, family and A-list guests including Julie Andrews, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Patti LuPone, whose memories are intercut with Alistair McGowan playing the great composer himself. The first two podcast episodes are available from 5 March.
The Importance of Being Earnest
“I play with wonderful expression,” says Algernon of his piano style in Oscar Wilde’s 1895 comedy. That’s certainly true of Ncuti Gatwa, not least when dressed in hot pink for the role in Max Webster’s glorious show with fabulous costumes and sets by Rae Smith. Enjoy for free on YouTube from 12-18 March – then available to National Theatre at Home subscribers from 19 March.
