National Theatre Live

Watch live theatre productions from the UK right here in Skaneateles!

Upcoming Shows – There are no scheduled shows at this time.

About National Theatre Live

NTL launched in June 2009 with a broadcast of the National Theatre production of Phèdre with Helen Mirren. They’ve since broadcast more than 40 other productions live, from both the National Theatre and from other theatres in the UK. Over 5.5 million people in over 2,000 venues around the world have experienced an NTL broadcast. The biggest single broadcast to date is Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch at the Barbican, which has been seen by over 550,000 people.

Past broadcasts from the National Theatre include:

  • War Horse
  • Man and Superman with Ralph Fiennes
  • Everyman with Chiwetel Ejiofor

Broadcasts from other UK theatres include:

  • Coriolanus from the Donmar Warehouse
  • A View from the Bridge from the Young Vic
  • Macbeth from the Manchester International Festival
  • Hangmen and The Audience from London’s West End

In 2014 the National Theatre recorded its first production on Broadway – Of Mice and Men with James Franco and Chris O’Dowd – captured at the Longacre Theatre.

How it works

Though each broadcast is filmed in front of a live audience in the theatre, cameras are carefully positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure that cinema audiences get the “best seat in the house” view of each production. Where these cameras are placed is different for each broadcast, to make sure that cinema audiences enjoy the best possible experience every time. Satellites allow the productions to be broadcast live to cinemas throughout the UK, as well as many European venues. Other venues view the broadcasts “as live” according to their time zone, or at a later date (like we’re doing here).


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