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[title]This October is a major milestone for the National Theatre – it’s turning 60! And to celebrate, the beloved institution will be putting last year’s hit production of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ online for a week, for free. First, it’ll be on YouTube for three days (starting at 7pm October 19), and afterwards, on National Theatre at Home for four days.
Not familiar with National Theatre at Home? You might recall that during the pandemic and lockdowns, the NT helped keep us sane by streaming one play a week – for free – from the archives of its cinema-quality streaming service NT Live. That was only a limited time offering, which eventually evolved into the theatre’s paid-for streaming service National Theatre at Home. Yep, that’s right: we all now have access to world-class theatre that you can watch any time, from your sofa.
At 7pm on Thursday October 19 ‘Othello’ will stream on the NT’s YouTube channel, where it will remain for three days – check out the trailer here. On October 22 it will come down from YouTube but be available to watch for free on NT at Home – without a subscription – until October 26. And the best bit? If you register for free and watch ‘Othello’ on National Theatre at Home, you can get a one month free subscription to the platform*. Your life is about to get a lot more theatrical.
Some people will know the story, some won’t, but ‘Othello’ is one of William Shakespeare’s great tragedies, that follows the downfall of the eponymous Black African general, who has risen to prominence in the largely white Venetian army, but is threatened by the toxic jealousy of his white ‘friend’ Iago.
Deputy artistic director Clint Dyer’s production was the first production of the play by a Black director to be staged at the theatre, and sharply and savagely brought the focus back onto the racist treatment of Othello. It’s a ferociously tense production that starred Olivier-winner Giles Terera (‘Hamilton)’ as a sensitive Othello, with Paul Hilton (‘The Inheritance’) as Iago and Rosy McEwen (‘The Alienist’) giving a brilliantly bolshy spin on Othello’s normally meek wife Desdemona. And you can watch it on your computer, at home, for free for a week to celebrate the NT’s sixtieth.
For 60 years the National Theatre has been entertaining and inspiring audiences around the world. The free stream of 'Othello' enables anyone, anywhere, to enjoy the National Theatre. So, if you can, please donate to the NT here.
Learn more about the National Theatre’s free stream of ‘Othello’ to celebrate 60 years.
*Offer available October 19-November 15 2023, terms and conditions apply.
What is National Theatre at Home?
Put simply, it’s unmissable theatre, whenever you want it. From the comfort of your home, you can watch some of the world’s greatest plays – with new productions being added every month. Yep, we’re talking shows like Tony Kushner’s masterpiece ‘Angels in America’, starring Andrew Garfield, Russell Tovey and Nathan Lane; Gillian Anderson and Lily James in ‘All About Eve’, directed by Ivo van Hove, and much more.
All recordings are captioned with optional subtitles, and many offer audio description, with a selection also offering British Sign Language.
It costs just £9.99 per month for unlimited access, or you can pay for a single play.