From broadway shows to concerts: Virtual performances to keep you entertained

With strict new guidelines in place ordering people to stay at home unless absolutely essential, it’s only natural that you might be starting to feel a little stir-crazy.

And while the thought of kicking up your feet and relaxing with your favourite television shows for hours on end may sound good in theory, there’s only so much TV you can watch before the boredom starts to set in. Thankfully, there are myriad other options to help you pass the day during self-isolation — most of which are completely free! All you’ll need is an internet connection.

Broadway shows

A trip to New York City may be off the cards for the time being, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on getting a front-row pass to a bunch of  Broadway musicals. Streaming service BroadwayHD has been bringing performances to people’s living rooms since 2015, and now more than ever theatre lovers are making use of the platform.

With close to 300 productions available, BroadwayHD features everything from Cats and The King and I to The Sound of Music and is currently offering users a free seven-day trial. After that, you’ll have to pay for the service, but at just $8.99 a month, it won’t eat away at your bank balance too much.

Theatre productions

London’s National Theatre is currently closed due to tight government restrictions, but the company is doing those bored in self-isolation a favour by streaming popular productions online each week.

For the next two months, the theatre will be uploading productions to YouTube for anyone to view — and it’s completely free. Every Thursday at 7pm (UK time) a new performance will appear on the National Theatre at Home channel and remain available for the following week. Enjoy shows such as One Man, Two Guvnors, starring James Corden, and Sally Cookson’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Each show finishes with a Q&A with the cast and creative team.

Musical performances

They might be cooped up in isolation, but that won’t stop some of the world’s most-loved singers performing for their fans. From Keith Urban to John Legend, many are taking to social media and other online platforms to share their music.

You can find some of these shows on the Global Citizen Together at Home YouTube channel. The virtual concert series, which was set up in partnership with the World Health Organization, already featured performances from the likes of Chris Martin of Coldplay and Charlie Puth.

Then there’s the recent iHeartRadio concert which was hosted by Elton John, which featured performances from Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga and Sam Smith, to name a few.

Opera shows

While its doors are currently closed in New York City, the Metropolitan Opera is offering free performances via its website. Each day, a new performance from the collection will be uploaded online and will remain available for 20 hours.