I’m grateful for to have been able to see 46 plays

What are the gifts in your life that you don’t even realise you have, until your attention is drawn to it? Recently I went to the cinema to see the latest NT Live screening, Nye. I was given the usual play information sheet, but this time it turned out to be not a usual screening at all, but a very special occasion: Nye was the 100th play that was screened in cinemas.

If you haven’t heard about it, you are missing out, because since 2009, National Theatre Live brings the best of British theatre to a cinema screen near you, all over the world, filmed live from Britain’s most exciting stages.

I started to go to the live transmissions after I moved to the UK in 2013. I lived up North in a smaller city, and hardly had any money, so I had no opportunity to go to a theatre. But the local cinema screened War Horse, and being an art loving person, I went to see it. My English was so weak at that time that I could barely understand what the actors said, but I was mesmerised by the theatre production itself. Since then, I go to the NT Live screenings every time I have the chance.

My English improved over the years, so understanding the plays are not as a challenge anymore. However, it still would be a stretch financially to go to all the plays to the theatre itself. Therefore, when I realised that I have seen at least 46 plays of the 100 in the past 10 years, I was absolutely shocked. I probably have seen more, but with all these complex Shakespeare tragedies, who remembers… 😉

My absolute favourite NT Live productions are:

Frankenstein
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Jane Eyre
Twelfth Night
Angels in America Part 1 & 2
The Lehman Trilogy
All My Sons
The Book of Dust
Prima Facie
Dear England

Without somebody coming up with the idea of the live transmissions, I would have never had the chance to see so many amazing plays and performances that enriched my life. Therefore, I am so grateful for everybody, who make these live theatre screenings possible.

What are you grateful for?

Warm regards,

Borbala