Digital Theatre (website)

Digital Theatre is a company that provides digital platforms for the arts. Founded by Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw and launched in London in 2009, the company produces and licenses high-definition films of stage productions that can be streamed on demand for both consumer and educational purposes.

In 2011, Digital Theatre's flagship digital educational platform Digital Theatre+ was launched, providing institutions around the world with access to productions and educational resources to support the teaching of English and Drama.

Digital Theatre was acquired by ScaleUp Capital (formerly Root Capital LLP) in 2015.[1] In 2019, former head of BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds Neelay Patel was appointed CEO.[2]

Partners

Digital Theatre partners with a number of major theatre companies to produce and license productions for the platform. Partners include Sonia Friedman Productions, Almeida Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Royal Opera House, English Touring Theatre, Eclipse, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Old Vic and Frantic Assembly.[3]

Original productions

As well as licensing productions from partner companies, Digital Theatre also produces original live captures of stage productions in the UK.

YearProductionPlaywrightDirectorCompanyTheatreRef.
2009Over ThereMark RavenhillMark Ravenhill and Ramin GrayRoyal Court TheatreRoyal Court Theatre[4]
2009The ContainerClare BayleyTom WrightYoung Vic[5]
2009The Comedy of ErrorsWilliam ShakespearePaul HunterRoyal Shakespeare Company and Told by an IdiotClapham Community Project[6]
2009Far from the Madding CrowdAdapted by Mark HealeyKate SaxonEnglish Touring TheatreYvonne Arnaud Theatre[7]
2010Kafka's MonkeyAdapted by Colin TeevanWalter MeierjohannYoung Vic[8]
2010Parlour SongJez ButterworthIan RicksonAlmeida TheatreAlmeida Theatre[9]
2011All My SonsArthur MillerHoward DaviesApollo Theatre[10]
2011As You Like ItWilliam ShakespeareMichael BoydRoyal Shakespeare CompanyThe Courtyard Theatre[11]
2011Billy The KidMichael MorpurgoTony GrahamUnicorn Theatre[12]
2011Into The WoodsStephen Sondheim and James LapineTimothy SheaderRegent’s Park Open Air TheatreRegent’s Park Open Air Theatre[13]
2011LovesongAbi MorganScott GrahamFrantic AssemblyLyric Hammersmith[14]
2011MacbethWilliam ShakespeareGemma BodinetzEveryman Theatre, Liverpool[15]
2011Much Ado About NothingWilliam ShakespeareJosie RourkeSonia Friedman ProductionsWyndham's Theatre[16]
2012King LearWilliam ShakespeareMichael AttenboroughAlmeida TheatreAlmeida Theatre[17]
2012Long Day’s Journey Into NightEugene O’NeillAnthony PageApollo Theatre[18]
2013A Doll's HouseHenrik IbsenCarrie CracknellYoung Vic[19]
2013Beautiful ThingJonathan HarveyNikolai FosterArts Theatre[20]
2013Private LivesNoël CowardJonathan KentGielgud Theatre[21]
2014GhostsHenrik IbsenRichard EyreAlmeida TheatreAlmeida Theatre[22]
2014The CrucibleArthur MillerYaël FarberThe Old Vic[23]
2011True WestSam ShepardPhillip BreenTricycle Theatre (now Kiln Theatre)[24]
2015Henry VJoe TalbotWillShake[25]
2016Iphigenia In SplottGary OwenRachel O'RiordanSherman Theatre[26]
2017CasanovaKenneth TindallNorthern BalletPalace Theatre[27]
2017Funny GirlJule Styne, Isobel Lennart and Bob MerrillMichael MayerSonia Friedman ProductionsPalace Theatre[28]
2018Don GiovanniWolfgang Amadeus MozartAlessandro TaleviOpera NorthGrand Theatre and Opera House[29]
2018OthelloWilliam ShakespeareRichard TwymanEnglish Touring TheatreWarwick Arts Centre[30]
2018Things I Know to Be TrueAndrew BovellScott GrahamFrantic AssemblyLyric Hammersmith[31]
2019Negative SpaceMole WetherellReckless SleepersNew Adelphi Theatre[32]
202015 HeroinesCat Robey, Tom Littler and Adjoa AndohJermyn Street TheatreJermyn Street Theatre[33]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2017Theatre & Technology AwardsBest Online/Live Streaming PlatformWon[34]
2018Webby AwardsBest Streaming PlatformNominated[35]
2018DigitalAgenda Impact AwardsEducation AwardWon[36]
2018Tech for TeachersBest Arts ResourceWon[37]
2019Theatre & Technology AwardsBest Online/Live Streaming PlatformWon[38]
2021Bett AwardsCompany of the Year (less than £3m turnover)Nominated[39]

References