Early in lockdown we alerted you to the fact that a long term favourite of ours, poet Luke Wright, was broadcasting a show every night via Twitter. I wasn't sure when we first mentioned it just how long that would continue, but he's still doing it every day and reaching sizeable audiences in the process.
I arranged a quick chat with Luke, to find out more about his shows, how he is keeping his creativity going in our current circumstances, and what his hopes are for the post-lockdown period.
CLICK HERE to read this Caro Meets interview.
Luke performs nightly from 8.00pm, tune in via his Twitter profile here.
Many of these online shows are free to access, though often there are ways that you can make donations if you enjoy what you see. Given most of the venues, companies and performers behind all this entertainment are facing significant financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown, any contributions you can afford will really help.
THREE COMEDY THINGS>>
Belly Laughs At Home | Bristol Old Vic | 10 May
This is a Bristol-based online event supporting charities in that city, so it's a sign of the times that I am recommending it to Londoners: hopefully Bristolians won't mind if we join in. Regular comedy night Belly Laughs gets an internet makeover and will feature the likes of Russell Howard, Jon Richardson, Alex Lovell, Jayde Adams, John Robins and Joe Wilkinson alongside host Mark Olver. Click here for info.
The Delightful Sausage: Cold Hard Cache | NextUp Comedy (pictured)
I've told you a few times already this lockdown (it makes it sound like an annual thing when I put it like that, so I won't be doing it again!) that now really is the time to take out a subscription to NextUp Comedy and take advantage of all the many shows on there. So if you haven't, you should now, so you can access our latest choice from their catalogue. We loved this show when we saw it at edfringe in 2017. You can watch it here.
Dead Cat Bounce - You're Welcome For The Music
You might already have seen this because it's been up on YouTube for a few weeks, but I thought I would give a heads up to anyone who has missed it. Long time fans of musical comedy will no doubt remember long defunct comedy rock band Dead Cat Bounce. This is their final performance, which was staged back in 2013, and which is online for your viewing pleasure. Head this way to check it out.
THREE THEATRE PIECES>>
Grounded | Deafinitely Theatre (pictured)
A couple of weeks ago we recommended 'Love's Labours Lost' from Deafinitely Theatre's Deafinitely Digital offerings. Now we'd like to recommend another: 'Grounded'. Recorded at the Park Theatre in 2016, it's about a fighter pilot reassigned to operate military drones from a windowless trailer outside Las Vegas when she unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Click here to watch it.
Bound | Southwark Playhouse
"'Bound' follows the fortunes of six trawlermen from Devon as they embark on one final voyage. Compelled by the threat of bankruptcy, fishing trawler The Violet is forced out into treacherous weather". One of a number of productions available to watch via the Southwark Playhouse site, this play won loads and loads of praise when it was on. If you didn't see it live, see it in lockdown. See the venue website here.
Amsterdam | Orange Tree Theatre
And so to another critical success, 'Amsterdam', by prize-winning Israeli playwright Maya Arad Yasur, translated by Eran Edry and directed by Matthew Xia. It's been online for a while, but I am mentioning it now so you can make sure you watch it while it's still available: you need to see it by 23 May. Head this way for more info.
THREE x SHORT STUFF>>
The Monologue Library | The Mono Box
Not-for-profit actors' support network The Mono Box have online a host of audio monologues from a long line up of renowned performers, including Pearl Mackie, Riz Ahmed, Vanessa Kirby, Paapa Essiedou and Derek Jacobi. There are so many, actually, that your experience here doesn't have to be that short - but you can listen to one at a time, whenever you have a few moments. Find them here.
Shakespeare's Sonnets | Jermyn Street Theatre
For some time now - from pretty much the start of lockdown, in fact - Jermyn Street have been broadcasting actors' readings of Shakespeare's sonnets via their YouTube channel and, at the time of writing, they are up to number 42. The recordings average at about a minute long, so you could work your way through the lot in less than an hour, or you could just take in one or two here and there. Follow the YouTube account here to see additions as they come.
Comedy Club 4 Kids (pictured)
Yeah, okay, this isn't actually short at all, but it's for short people isn't it?! Unless your children are all 5'10" already, I guess. Anyway, it's an online edition of one of our favourite things, the excellent Comedy Club 4 Kids, hosted by the excellent Tiernan Douieb. There are currently two instalments available via NextUp Comedy's YouTube channel, and another poised to stream as I write these words. See the show from 18 Apr here, and from 25 Apr here, and check here for the next one.
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