Ivan Heng, artistic director of Wild Rice theatre company, playing Emily in a production of Emily Of Emerald Hill. (Photo: Wild Rice)

Singapore theatre companies are streaming their productions for free online in light of the COVID-19 pandemic having caused a shutdown of arts and entertainment outlets.

Wild Rice will be releasing video recordings of three of its plays over the next three Fridays on its YouTube channel, beginning tomorrow (24 April). Each play will begin streaming on its release date at 7.30pm and remain online for one week.

The first play Wild Rice is releasing is the iconic monologue Emily Of Emerald Hill by Stella Kon, starring Ivan Heng in the titular role, starting from 24 April. This particular production was recorded in Wild Rice’s Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre on 27 September 2019.

The other two plays, Supervision and Monkey Goes West, will start streaming from 1 May and 8 May respectively.

Set a reminder on YouTube for the premiere of Emily Of Emerald Hill:

Wild Rice will also stream live talks for artists and audiences to discuss the plays.

Free educational packs for these plays will be available online including suggested activities for children and students.

See Wild Rice’s website for more information.

Pangdemonium will stream its play, Falling, from 8pm on 24 April till 11.59pm on 26 April. Visit Pangdemonium’s Vimeo page to watch the play when it’s released.

Chinese-language theatre company, Nine Years Theatre, will be releasing one play weekly on its YouTube channel. Lear Is Dead, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear, is currently streaming until 29 April. You can watch it here:

For those who are interested in British plays, the UK’s National Theatre will be streaming Frankenstein as well as Anthony And Cleopatra on its YouTube channel.

The star-studded productions feature Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in Frankenstein, and Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo in Anthony And Cleopatra.

Frankenstein will be streamed on 30 April and 1 May while Anthony And Cleopatra will be streamed on 7 May.

Bookmark the YouTube video of Frankenstein’s premiere below so that you won’t miss it:

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