Swan Lake from English National Ballet
More than 100 performers – including 60 dancing swans – flood the stage at the Royal Albert Hall for Derek Deane’s in-the-round production. First performed in 1997, it was recorded in the summer of 2024 with Sangeun Lee as Odette/Odile and the film boasts some majestic aerial shots. On BBC iPlayer.
The Hot Wing King
Katori Hall won the 2021 Pulitzer prize for drama with this culinary comedy, set in her home town of Memphis and described by the board as “a funny, deeply felt consideration of Black masculinity”. Roy Alexander Weise’s 2024 National Theatre production is available from NT at Home.
Titanic: The Musical
The lewd blockbuster spoof Titanique, with Layton Williams playing the villainous iceberg, has become one of the West End’s most fun nights out. In contrast, and newly added to BroadwayHD, is this sincere musical account of the fatal 1912 voyage, with a Tony award-winning score by Maury Yeston.
Touching the Void
Ti Green’s imaginative set, switching from pub to mountain peak, is quite the achievement in this gripping adaptation of Joe Simpson’s climbing memoir, mounted by Tom Morris at Bristol Old Vic. One of a selection of films on MarqueeTV curated by director Emma Rice.
Chiroptera
A short film on Arte that deserves to be streamed on the biggest screen you can find. This is an eerie outdoor spectacle (created by artist JR, choreographer Damien Jalet and composer Thomas Bangalter) that took place at night at the Palais Garnier in Paris. As traffic passes, dozens of cloaked dancers perform a spellbinding piece.
Pantsula dance workshop
“Let’s do it!” Buru Mohlabane, artistic director of the company Via Katlehong, is a charismatic teacher for this beginner’s level guide to the rhythm, footwork and revolutionary spirit of the South African dance style pantsula. A practical series of videos as part of the Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.
Gatsby in Harlem
The BBC’s decision to axe its Radio 3 drama slot is dispiriting for listeners of longer form radio plays such as this Harlem Renaissance spin on F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic. Adapted by Roy Williams, it brings together a host of theatrical talent including Ncuti Gatwa, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Malachi Kirby. On BBC Sounds.
Gravity & Other Myths
Marking 15 years since its launch in Adelaide, this 2024 documentary charts the international rise – via a phenomenal Edinburgh festival success – of the Australian circus company Gravity & Other Myths. The MO of their acrobatics? Simply “a profound joy to be alive”. On Arte.
Sister Act
As the song goes: Fabulous, baby! After its revival at the Dominion theatre, the London recording of Alan Menken’s Sister Act: The Musical is now on streaming platforms. Beverley Knight, Ruth Jones, Lesley Joseph, Lemar and Clive Rowe are among the cast on the album.
Kinky Boots
Strictly’s Johannes Radebe is donning dance’s slightly less famous pair of red shoes as Lola in a tour of Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s musical. Matt Henry plays the part in Digital Theatre’s 2018 recording of the musical, at London’s Adelphi theatre, with support from Killian Donnelly and Natalie McQueen.
