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Sky Arts brings live drama back to television
Sky Arts announces new theatre project
Six bestselling authors; five established directors, twenty astonishing actors, and six brand new plays – broadcast live in high definition… introducing Sky Arts: Theatre Live!
This July, Sky Arts brings live drama back to British television for the first time in twenty years as some of the most renowned names from literature, film and television come together to stage six theatrical world premieres, broadcast live on Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 1 HD weekly at 9pm from 8 July 2009.
Sky Arts Theatre Live! will see six highly successful authors make their debuts as playwrights collaborating with lauded directors and high-profile actors to create original plays, performed to a live audience in the purpose built Sky Arts Theatre Live! studio. The Sky Arts Theatre Live! company is led by artistic director Sandi Toksvig, and includes author Kate Mosse, actress Pauline Collins and director John Alderton.
Rehearsals for Sky Arts Theatre Live! will begin at The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond in June, giving the creative team just three weeks to not only mount a brand new theatre production, but to stage a live television programme. The programme, hosted by Sandi Toksvig, will be introduced with unparalleled, behind the scenes access to the ‘making of’ each production, charting the highs and lows of producing for stage and screen simultaneously.
Following the world premiere performance of each play, both the audience at home and in studio will be encouraged to offer their response and reaction, adding another dimension to the traditional theatrical experience. The full creative team behind each play – actors, writer and director – will discuss the process in a live post-show discussion.
Sky Arts Theatre Live! is the first major drama initiative for Sky Arts, and represents a watershed for theatre on TV. Marrying the excitement of going to the theatre, with the accessibility and audience range of television, the unique format empowers audience to engage with live drama as they would in a theatre space, whilst simultaneously providing the critique, comment and discussion forum that television offers. Each play will be shot in high definition, further enhancing the theatrical experience for the viewer.
“For the first quarter-century of British Television drama was live. Live drama has a rawness and immediacy in which anything can and did happen including on one sad occasion the death of the leading actor (Gareth Jones in ‘Underground’ on Armchair Theatre in 1958). Now Sky Arts brings back genuine ‘reality’ television – drama as it happens, whatever happens. Vibrant, immediate, warts and all. I started my career in live television. It has an energy that cannot be found elsewhere and I am delighted to be going back.” – Sandi Toksvig
“Sky Arts Theatre Live! is, quite simply, one of the most exciting projects we’ve got coming up this year – and that’s saying something, considering it’s up against Glyndebourne and Antony Gormley’s One & Other,” comments John Cassy, Channel Director for Sky Arts. “The current debate around cultural television programme will rage on, of course, but we’re absolutely convinced that a project as innovative and entertaining as Sky Arts Theatre Live! proves just how committed we are at Sky Arts to ensuring that arts on TV thrives.”
Sky Arts Theatre Live! is the flagship programme of Sky Arts’ theatre season for summer 2009, which will see the channel expand on its theatre offering with commissions such as Theatreland and documentaries including In The Company of Actors.
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Latest comments
G
Tue 16 June 2009, 16:01
Sounds very innovative! Is it possible to get tickets for these plays?
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ruth
Wed 17 June 2009, 12:18
I would like to buy tickets also - how do you do this?
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Sari from Sky Arts
Thu 18 June 2009, 20:11
You can win tickets by visiting https://secure.skyarts.co.uk/competition-offer/article/theatre-live-mind-away - good luck!
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George
Sun 5 July 2009, 23:48
Great news. Will it include about design of the set and how it fits in with the directors ethos for the play?
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archibaldo
Tue 7 July 2009, 22:41
does this project predate the National Theatre’s recent NT Live cinema initiative with Nick Hytner’s production of Phedre? Or just a coincidence?
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Terry Hunter
Wed 8 July 2009, 21:11
I watched the first performance tonight. Excellent! thank you Sandi for having the guts and for getting the backing to bring live theatre back to the small screen after all these years. I will watch every one of the performances and I hope that this series leads on to a permanent fixture on tv.
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S Hyland
Thu 9 July 2009, 07:22
Congratulations to everyone involved in last nights performance.It was outstanding and I am looking forward to the next play.
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Pam Lucas
Sun 12 July 2009, 20:47
Dear Sandi et al,
I just want to thank you very much for a fantastic idea - Jackie Kaye’s play was brilliantly performed and a treat to watch. I look forward to seeing all the others and I hope that this idea of live theatre will become a permanent feature.
Best Wishes and Congratulations to all concerned
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Elizabeth
Fri 17 July 2009, 15:58
Will there be a DVD available after the series finishes?
I have watched both of the Theatre Live performances so far and i think they are fantastic!
I would love to be able to watch all of the behind the scenes action again as well as the plays themselves!
Thanks
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Colin McEwen
Wed 22 July 2009, 22:52
Have watched the first three plays and they are fantastic. There is nothing better than live theatre and the performances have been superb. Lets hope this becomes a permanent fixture on Sky Arts and well done to all the team for having the guts to do it.
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Daphne
Wed 29 July 2009, 21:12
This is the first Theatre Live I have seen in the series - and what a wonderful play it was! The authors and actors were outstanding, and I have rarely enjoyed a programme as much as this one. Congratulations to Sandi Toksvig, and I can’t wait to see her play next week.
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Sarah
Sat 1 August 2009, 22:27
This is the best television I have seen in years. Exciting, intelligent and marvellously entertaining. The right mix of behind the scenes viewing and the plays themselves. Thank you to all involved. Please can we have more investment in this type of work?
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Louella Foyle
Tue 4 August 2009, 16:08
As a fledgling theatre director from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, I am inspired, what a great idea Sandy and so watchable. How does one get tickets to see this live?
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Alison
Wed 5 August 2009, 16:40
Enjoyed all the plays so far. Will there be a DVD?
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Simon
Thu 6 August 2009, 10:24
Same question as Alison re. DVD.
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pamela lucas
Thu 6 August 2009, 14:04
I have watched every single performance thus far and I wish to send my compliments to Sandi Toksvig et al for the wonderful theatre experiences I have had on Wednesday nights. I only hope that this idea will take off and become a regular show.
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pamelalucas - mrsplucas@gmail.com
Thu 6 August 2009, 14:05
I would be delighted and grateful to be informed if a DVD will be made of the plays which were brilliant.
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Gilly
Thu 6 August 2009, 23:23
My Skybox died 5 mins before Sandi Toksvig’s long-awaited offering, leaving me feeling very cheated.Are there plans to repeat these programmes---obviously in a less than live format? Hope so!
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Chris Smith, Birmingham
Fri 7 August 2009, 21:30
Absolutely wonderful! Have watched all 5 so far and look forward to next weeks. Congratulations to all involved for using television in the best possible way. Please, please, please another series at the very least!
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J.Rhys, Merseyside
Sun 27 September 2009, 23:02
I thoroughly enjoyed tonight’s performance and commend Sandi Toksvig and Sky Arts for at last putting something challenging and innovative on tv and daring to take a chance, which can sometimes mean daring to fail - not that you did tonight!
Well done all and more of the same, please.
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