Working in London pre-motherhood had its perks. One of them was the fact that my office was just a few minutes walk from the bustling theatre district. Venturing into London to visit the West End on a regular basis is not quite so easy now we’re parents.
There is an alternative though and it’s right on our doorstep. NT Live is a brilliant project from the National Theatre which broadcasts plays live to cinemas across the UK and internationally. The good news is that we have a local NT Live venue at the newly refurbished Broadway Cinema in Letchworth.
The project has been a huge success since its launch in 2009, with NT Live broadcasting to more than 5.5 million people in more than 2,000 venues around the world. Each play is broadcast live via satellite, with cameras carefully placed around the auditorium to make sure viewers get an authentic viewing experience and the ‘best seat in the house’. NT Live’s biggest viewing to date was for Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch at the Barbican.
If you can’t organise a babysitter for a night out in London, you may just be able to arrange a couple of hours ‘off duty’ to soak up a bit of culture in lovely Letchworth. Information on NT Live plays showing at the Broadway Cinema can be found here.
If you’ve experienced NT Live, please let us know in the comments below.
2 comments
Have been to a few of the Live screenings at Letchworth Broadway – Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time, King Lear, Take That on tour. Great shows and much easier, cheaper and more comfortable than going in to London. You even get a glass of wine as you go in. Have got tickets for The Tempest and Amadeus booked. Would definitely recommend it.
We saw Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, it was brilliant! Hope you enjoy The Tempest and Amadeus, let us know how you get on. A glass of wine is always welcome! Thanks so much for your comment Sarah.