But now, Greenwich Theatre and Stage on Screen are offering a real alternative by recording a wide range of classic theatre plays and distributing them on DVD.
Teachers and students, especially, will be able to watch and study plays on the syllabus easily, conveniently and cost-effectively, and, thanks to the wealth of extras and study aids included in our teaching packs, get a real feel for the production.
The plays, mainly chosen from the English. Theatre Studies and Drama GCSE and A level syllabus, will be staged and recorded at Greenwich Theatre, the award-winning South East London venue. Each will run as a theatre production for a short season, with sometouring to additional venues around the UK. The professional recording, by Stage on Screen, will be on High Definition Video and produced to deliver the look and feel of a live performance.
DVDs will be available via the Stage on Screen website and mail order. There will be three versions available: a Regular Pack for students and theatre lovers, a Library Pack for rental use and a 4-disc Teacher Pack: which includes an extras DVD and an interactive CD ROM that allows students to edit their own versions of key scenes.
The first plays to be produced will be Dr Faustus and The School for Scandal, which will be available from November 2009. These will be followed soon after by Lady
Windermere's Fan and Volpone. Other plays in the pipeline include A Doll's House, Antigone, The White Devil and The Alchemist, "This is a truly exciting opportunity," says Phil Rees, Director of Stage on Screen. "Nothing like this has ever been done before, and research indicates that these DVDs will make a massive difference to the enjoyment, appreciation and study of the plays. They will alleviate time and cost pressures on teachers, who will also, we hope, find the many additional features in the teachers' packs and on the website invaluable."
