Shakespeare’s Globe says it is the first theatre in the world to sell downloads of its productions through its own online platform, as it launches the Globe Player today.
Performances available through the on-demand platform in high definition include key productions from the 2009 to 2012 summer seasons, including Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry in Twelfth Night (2012), Samantha Spiro in The Taming of the Shrew (2012), and Roger Allam in Henry IV parts 1 and 2 (2010).
Foreign language productions from the 2012 Globe to Globe festival of international Shakespeare, as are more than 100 free interviews on Shakespeare with actors including Dame Judi Dench, Ewan McGregor, Sir Ian McKellena and Jude Law. In total more than 50 full-length high definition prouductions at the Globe are available to rent or buy. Productions from 2013 will be available in coming months, while last year’s touring productions of the three Henry VI plays can be viewed now.
“Whether we’re touring the world, inviting the world to the Globe or being the first to experiment with low ticket prices with our £5 groundling tickets, the Globe is always looking for old new ways ot take Shakespeare out into the world and share his astonishing plays with as many people as possible,” said Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe. “Globe Player will allow us to reach brand new audiences and to make access to our productions simple and seamless for anyone with the internet. We are delighted to be the first theatre with its own dedicated video-on-demand platform.”
Photo credit: John Haynes
From left: Nigel Cooke (Duke of Exeter), Jamie Parker (Henry V), James Lailey (Earl of Westmoreland), Brendan O’Hea (Captain Fluellen) in Shakespeare’s Globe 2012 production of Henry V.
