Experience the best of British Theatre for free – streamed drama collections

09 Dec 2024

Find out more about our streamed drama collections.

Did you know that as a result of the Library’s ongoing collaboration with the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures to support the study of performance-based arts in the challenging post-COVID environment, all members of the university can access a range of acclaimed performances from major UK theatre companies online for free?

The latest additions bring the number of our productions from over a decade of 'NT Live' broadcasts now available to 70. These include popular recent successes like:

• The Book Of Dust by Nicholas Hytner
• Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo in Antony & Cleopatra
• Michael Sheen in Under Milk Wood

Manchester connections

The streamed performances also feature productions with notable local connections, such as:

• Alumnus Benedict Cumberbatch alternating the roles of creator and creature in Frankenstein (National Theatre Collections)
• (Professor) Maxine Peake as Hamlet from the city’s Royal Exchange in Hamlet

Access the productions

All individual titles can be found on Library search and there’s more to explore on the databases section of the library’s subject guide for Drama

No expensive tickets, travel costs, or audience distractions—enjoy the show.