Has cabin fever kicked in? Have you 'completed' Netflix? Are you craving some culture?
While it might not be quite the same as travelling the globe, or experiencing live theatre, or being front row at a gig - I thought I'd share a round-up of some clever, virtual ways of enjoying some of the pastimes you might be missing right now - from award-winning theatre from your sofa, to the call of the wild, from the safety of your kitchen table. While we may be on lockdown we can still enjoy the enriching experience of some many of the world's leading cultural attractions, here are just a few:
The National Theatre are running a 'NT at Home' series whilst the venue is closed due to COVID-19 restrictions; each Thursday a new performance is added to their website, where you can watch recordings of some of their award-winning theatre productions - from Shakespeare to Treasure Island, Jane Eyre and West End hit, One Man, Two Guvnors. A great, accessible way to enjoy theatre in our current climate and even introduce teens to the genre, without the ticket price!
San Diego may be 8 hours behind the UK, but tune in around teatime and you can watch live streams from all the major animal enclosures - from tigers to penguins, polar bears, elephants and apes. On each 'Live Cam' page you can learn about the different animals' names, ages and characters - a great alternative for screen time with kids!
Google Arts & Culture has teamed up with over 2,500 museums and galleries around the world to bring you virtual tours of some of the world’s most famous museums – from London’s Natural History Museum to the MET in New York. Browse by map, or A to Z directory and dip in and out of some of the leading art and culture institutions in the world.
Sadler's Well have also opened up a digital space to share a programme of full-length dance performances and workshops online - there are dance classes for kids, as well as over 60s - alongside archive recordings of performances from some of the world's leading dancers and choreographers.
Glastonbury's 50th anniversary festival might be cancelled but you can still get a front row seat at one of the biggest billed concerts of the year - dubbed 'lockdown Live Aid' - Global Citizen and the World Health Organisation (WHO) put on an 8-hour concert, featuring sets from the likes of Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stone, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Sam Smith and Celine Dion, Taylor Swift - all playing direct from their front room to yours. The marathon show included messages of thanks and support for frontline health workers from the likes of Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, The Beckhams and Beyonce. The event raised almost £102m in the first 24 hours, with proceeds going towards vaccine development and local and regional charities.