As it could still be some time before we can get back to enjoying our favourite shows on an actual stage, I invite you to join me on a virtual tour of some of the best theatre venues in the world from some of the smallest and oldest to some of the grandest and brightest. From dazzling light shows and curtains made of Tiffany glass to a theatre in an old toilet, just click the links to follow me as we embark on a dramatic journey of discovery.
(As all theatres are struggling, right now, please consider making a donation to your favourites to help keep them going.)
Theatre of Small Convenience
Let’s start by heading to the rolling countryside of Malvern, Worcestershire, where hidden within the picturesque little town is the world’s smallest theatre. In a former life, back in Victorian times, this quirky 12-seater venue was a Gents lavatory no less! But in 1997 the place was lovingly transformed by Dennis Neale, a local puppeteer, and the first show was performed there in November 1999. Head to The Theatre of Small Convenience website, for a 360 panoramic view, which shows exactly how small this didi theatre really is, and meet Dennis himself for a mini tour. The theatre was entered into the Guinness Book of Records in 2002 and is less than half the size of the previous record holder in Hamburg.
The Globe Theatre, London
We move on next to another of my favourites, The Globe, in London, first opened in 1599 and resurrected in 1997. Whether you’re one of the ‘groundlings’ – the people who stand to watch the performance – or perched up on a cushion in the heavens, this iconic theatre allows audiences to experience Shakespeare’s plays as they would have been experienced back in his day.
To get an idea of what it’s like to visit the theatre, you can take the 360 virtual tour. Open the doors to watch snippets of some of Shakespeare’s plays or click on the circles to find out more about the theatre itself. For an even more immersive experience in 3D you can download the free app or how about a trip behind the scenes to see how costumes and props are made? To see a play, you can rent or buy one from the Globe itself or choose from a list of titles available for a short time courtesy of the BBC for Culture in Quarantine. The plays aren’t all traditional interpretations. A few months ago, I was able to catch a streamed performance of Hamlet, in which the cross-dressing of Shakespeare’s day was taken to another level, as Michelle Terry played a captivating Hamlet opposite her Ophelia, played by Shubham Saraf.
The National Theatre, London
Next, let’s take a sneaky peak behind the scenes at another of England’s finest theatres to see how a production is made, Jane Eyre. For those of us who watched the live streamed performances through lockdown, here is a chance to relive some of the highlights but if you didn’t manage to catch the shows, you can still access them via Bloomsbury’s digital library Drama Online. My personal favourites were, of course, the comedies: One Man Two Guvnors, Twelfth Night (Tamsin Greig was simply mesmerising as Malvolio) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in which it’s Oberon and not Titania that ends up falling in love with an ass to hilarious effect. Bottom (played by Hammed Animashaun) and Oberon (Oliver Chris) had a real on-stage chemistry!
Theatre by the Sea
I can’t leave our English shores without a trip to Cornwall’s wonderful Minack Theatre, built into the Cornish rocks and overlooking the sea. Nothing quite compares to watching a performance with the sea in the background, especially as the sun sets behind the action and the twinkling lights come on. It makes for a truly magical setting. The theatre was built by hand by the artist, Rowena Cade. Without the aid of diggers and with just a few helpers, Rowena realised her vision of a theatre on the cliff-edge. Although no longer alive today, Rowena left her indelible mark, as you can still find designs that she etched into the stone using only her trusty screw driver. The first play was performed at the theatre in 1932. It was, of course, Shakespeare’s Tempest. Pretty rough and ready back then, the stage was lit by car headlights attached to batteries. It marked the beginning of a 40-year-long project. You can visit the theatre in real time by webcam, take a 360 tour or see a later version of The Tempest at The Minack, produced by Moving Stories.
The Floating Theatre
From a theatre by the sea to a theatre on a lake, the floating theatre of Bregenz. Every year in the sleepy Austrian town of Bregenz a fantastic floating stage is erected on the lake for an awesome performing arts festival in July and August, with each year’s set seemingly more audacious than the last. You can watch, as it happens, the construction of the stage and set for the next performance in 2021 of Rigoletto via the Bregenzerfestspiele webcam, explore with a virtual tour or see pictures of the show.
Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico
I chose this next one simply because of its architectural beauty and the surprises that can be found inside, from Diego Riviera murals to the magnificent glass curtain that graces the back of the stage, all of which you can see in this superb Virtual tour. The curtain, which depicts the brilliant blue skies and mountainous landscape of the Valley of Mexico is comprised of a million 2cm pieces of Tiffany glass seamlessly fitted together to form a stunning mosaic backdrop. Don’t forget to look up to see the beautiful stained glass Apollo surrounded by his muses. Soak up some Mexican culture while you’re there, too, with this colourful and energetic performance by the Mexican Folk Ballet.
Sydney Opera House
Next up is the Sydney Opera House with its iconic sails. I can’t even think of Sydney without picturing them presiding over the harbour on a bright sunny day but it could be argued that they are even more awe-inspiring at night when they are brought to life by amazing moving images. Experience the spectacle of Badu Gili, which means ‘water light’ in the language of the Gadigal people – a stunning light show projected onto the sails, which depicts images from the ancient First Nation stories. It’s a work of art that will take your breath away.
The World’s Oldest Theatre
Let’s hop back to Europe now for something completely different. Situated between Venice and Milan in North East Italy, we can find the oldest indoor theatre in the world, The Teatro Olimpico, with interiors made of wood, stucco and plaster. It was constructed between 1580 and 1585 and designed by the architect, Andrea Palladio. As well as being the oldest, this theatre is interesting for its trompe-l’œil onstage scenery, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi, which gives the impression of long streets receding to a distant horizon point to make the stage appear much larger than it really is. It was installed in 1585 for the theatre’s very first performance and is the world’s oldest surviving stage set.
The Egg
From the oldest theatre to one of the most futuristic, Beijing’s National Centre for the performing Arts, affectionately referred to as The Egg, is next on my list. Construction actually started way back in 2001 but this building, which appears to float in the middle of a lake, looks like something straight out of a science fiction film. French architect, Paul Andreu caused quite a stir with his controversial design. Situated quite close to The Forbidden City, The Egg was a bold choice. During the day, light flows into the building through the glass roof. At night, activities within can be seen from the outside. See inside this unusual venue for yourself, with this virtual tour.
The Bolshoi Theatre
Sadly, it’s time for the final stop on our grand tour. As we started with the smallest, let’s finish with one of the grandest. The Bolshoi Theatre literally means the big or the grand theatre. Let’s take a virtual tour with Google Arts and Culture. Wandering around the corridors, on the ground floor it feels a bit like walking inside a big cake with pink icing and gold leaf. You can use the numbers on the right-hand-side to view the theatre from the different tiers. See the plush red and gold interior from different angles and get up close and personal with the giant chandelier, which is 65 metres in diameter and weighs a massive 2 tons. No less than 24,000 crystal pendants are suspended from its 3 tiers. Don’t forget to admire the ceiling above it too. Painted by 19th Century artist, Alexei Titov, it portrays a round dance by Apollo and his Nine Muses. There was no Muse of painting in Greek legend, so Titov supplanted the muse of the sacred hymn with one he invented, depicted here with palette and brush. The curtain was initially made of natural silk with a metallic thread and covered with a very thin layer of gold; it measured 500 square meters and weighed more than a ton. The original was transferred to a museum, however, and the current one is made in the same style but of a more durable acrylic resembling silk. Learn more about the theatre’s history or discover just what goes into making the costumes in this behind the scenes tour of the costume department.
And if you want to finish this tour on a real high, how about a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake by the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet?
