National Theatre's move to screen top productions for free on Youtube praised by Highland venue Eden Court; shows begin with The Late Late Show star James Corden's acclaimed performance in One Man, Two Guvnors; move was prompted by Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown

A HIGHLAND entertainment venue has hailed plans by the National Theatre to screen recordings of major stage productions for free on Youtube – to keep people entertained during the coronavirus lockdown.

Eden Court made the remarks following the National Theatre's decision this week.

Eden Court, and the Vue cinema in Inverness, both regularly screen top National Theatre productions straight from the West End.

But with them – and all other UK theatres and cinemas – currently closed, the National Theatre has decided to throw shows which would otherwise entertain Highland cinemagoers, online for free.

A new production will go live every Thursday, starting tomorrow with the hit show "One Man, Two Guvnors", starring famous actor James Corden, who also hosts The Late, Late Show in the USA.

It will be available to watch on the National Theatre's Youtube channel from 7pm tomorrow, and will be viewable for a week, before another show goes up on the site.

Welcoming the announcement, Eden Court's official Twitter feed said: "That's Thursday nights sorted, thanks @NTLive!"

Subsequent free online productions include Jane Eyre on April 9, Treasure Island on April 16, and Twelfth Night on April 23.

"Join us right here [on Youtube] every Thursday at 7pm UK time for some of the best British theatre, free to stream for a week," said a spokesman for the National Theatre.

For more information, or to watch the productions once they go live, go to the National Theatre's Youtube channel.

For more details about the National Theatre At Home initiative, visit its website.

Click here to read more Ross-shire Journal news.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.