Theatre News

BBC announces new theatre and arts shows coming soon

The organisation has outlined plans for new programmes and commissions

Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
© RSC, photo by Topher McGrillis

The BBC has announced a variety of new shows and programmes it will be broadcasting across the coming lockdown months.

This week, the RSC's production of Macbeth starring Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack will be presented from 9.30pm on 14 June on BBC Four. Directed by Polly Findlay, the show then transferred to the Barbican in London.

Last week, the RSC's production of Romeo and Juliet was broadcast on BBC Four at 9pm on Sunday 7 June as part of the Culture in Quarantine scheme. It stars Bally Gill and Karen Fishwick in the titular roles, with Gill winning the 2019 Ian Charleston Award for his performance, and is now available on BBC iPlayer.

Other shows that will be broadcast on BBC Four in June include Hamlet with Paapa Essiedu, with dates to be confirmed.

The organisation will work with the Lyric Theatre in Northern Ireland to present new isolation dramas, featuring the likes of Lisa McGee (Derry Girls), Stella McCusker (Game of Thrones), Anthony Boyle (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), David Ireland (Cyprus Avenue) and Conleth Hill (Game Of Thrones).

The dramas will be broadcast in June on BBC Two Northern Ireland, and will then be available on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer.

BBC Arts and Arts Council England have also revealed 25 new commissions featuring artists creating work in lockdown. They will include imitating the dog, 1927, Jade Anouka, Wayward Productions, Opera North and Shon Dale-Jones. You can find out more here.

A list of shows available on iPlayer is available here