Virtual highlights for the week ahead 23rd – 29th April 2020
It’s hard to keep up with everything that’s become available, what’s launched and what’s new and what you wanted to watch and then forgot to. Fear not, we’ve done the hard work for you.
We’ve rounded up the best virtual events that you can join from anywhere, as long as there’s Wi-Fi!
If you find it useful, please do share this and sign up to the newsletter. We’ll be sending these out every week.
We’ll be adding to this list all the time, so if you know of anything that should be on the list, please email hello@littlebird.co.uk.
OUR TOP PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Twelfth Night at The National Theatre at Home! (available from 23rd- 30th April)
Enjoy the acclaimed Twelfth Night with Tamsin Grieg as Malvolia in a new twist on Shakespeare’s classic comedy of mistaken identity, at The National Theatre at Home this week. Streaming from 7pm UK time on Thursday 23rd April. Available on demand until 30th April.
English National Ballet, launching Watch Party: Broken Wings (From 22 – 24 April) (48mins)
Iconic painter Frida Kahlo is the heroine of this vibrant ballet full of warmth and passion. Based on Kahlo’s life and art, Broken Wings is “a marvellous image of creativity and power” (The Independent), filled with colourful Fridas, mischievous day-of-the-dead skeletons and dancing birds. Watch it here
12 Hours of your Favourite West End Performers from their couch! (April 23rd)
All the Web’s a Stage is an online event consisting of 12 marvellous jam-packed hours of all your favourite performers from the West End and theatre to comedy, drag and magic – doing what they do best, but swapping big stages and bright lights for their couch. The livestream is raising money for artists who have been severely impacted by Covid-19. They’ll update the line up and see here for more details
Comic Relief’s Big Night In! (23rd April, 7pm BBC 1 and BBC iPlayer)
For one night only, Comic Relief, BBC Children in Need and BBC One, are coming together for a special night of entertainment, like no other. As the nation celebrates the people who are making a difference and help supporting those affected during these extraordinary times. Funds raised on the night will be split equally between BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief to provide essential support to local charities, projects and programmes across the UK to help those most in need.
Watch Peter Kay, Lenny Henry, Catherine Tate, Gary Barlow, and a whole host of famous names – the star-studded show will feature musical acts, money can’t buy prizes, comedy sketches and lots more surprises on the night.
What’s more, the UK Treasury will match pound for pound any contributions the public decide they are able to make.
Disco In-Furlough – Live from your living room! (Every Friday, 6pm)
Feeling locked down? Want to break free? Join Disco-in-Furough for a massive virtual video knees-up! They’ve got the moves, the grooves and the anti-viral banter. All you need is Zoom, yourself… and maybe some bright dance rags. Join hoards of other people just like you and bring a global dancing community LIVE into your living room!
Go here to sign up to receive the zoom link and you’re in!
Secret Sofa from Secret Cinema – Every Friday, 7.30pm (sign up on Tuesdays)
Perhaps one for the teens in your house. Sign up for free and every Tuesday the Secret Sofa of the week will be announced via email, In true Secret Cinema style you’ll get suggestions of how to get involved from character and costume to era-defining music and activities to food and drink ideas (and ice cream, obviously) – how far you go is up to you. This week’s film is Groundhog Day.
Watch Cirque du Soleil Shows at CirqueConnect
Every Friday, Cirque du Soleil will be premiering a new CirqueConnect 60-minute special of their shows for free. Last week was their show show Zed (still available), a performance created exclusively for Tokyo. This week is yet to be announced. But see more here.
Royal Albert Home: Jazz for Kids (Saturday 25th April, 2pm)
Albert’s Band’s jazz supremo Arthur Lea will deliver an exclusive 30-minute Jazz For Kids set from his home as part of the Royal Albert Home sessions. From blues to mambo, and from New Orleans standards to Gerswhin classics, there’s something for everyone. Sing along, dance around, and have a doop-de-wop time! Watch here.
GlaSTAY-INbury – The Online Festival Bringing Worthy Farm to your Frontroom! (Sat, 25th Apr, 16:00 – 22:30)
Taking place on 25th April 2020, the party is being streamed online and will include historic performances from artists such as Beyoncé, Foals, Adele, Foo Fighters, and Amy Winehouse. All you need to do is dig out the wellies, leave a 12-pack of cider in the sun, put up your tent and tune in for a day of partying. You are being asked to donate to access it and it’s raising money for the Association of NHS Charities, a conglomeration of all the charities helping the NHS.Buy tickets and donate here
Hackney Flea Market Online (Sat 25th and 26th April)
Hackney Flea Market, the monthly vintage market, has gone online! Take a scroll through a selection of salvaged treasures from 40 flea and vintage traders from the comfort and safety of your own home. Buy direct from traders selling an amazing mix of salvaged, one-of-a-kind and lost-and-found objects, from 20th Century furniture to records, salvaged French homeware, textiles, reclaimed industrial fixtures, lamps and bric-a-brac. Tune in via Instagram stories at @hackneyfleamarket. Starts at 10am Saturday 25th and runs through Sunday 26th. Check out more here
The 2.6 Challenge! Help save the UK’s charities (Sunday 26th April)
Join the country and do the 2.6 Challenge to help save the UK’s charities.The 2.6 Challenge can be any activity you like – from running 2.6 miles to holding an online workout with 26 of your friends. Check out ‘how to get involved’ for more ideas. You can donate or fundraise!
Tom Hardy returns to Bedtime Stories! (From 27th April for one week)
The Peaky Blinders and Mad Max star is returning to CBeebies show, Bedtime Stories, for one week from 27th April.
After receiving huge demand after his 2016 appearance from CBeebies fans (aka, mums everywhere), Tom will read one story a night over the course of a week, with a sixth story to air later in the year, including Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton and childhood classic There’s a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart.
CBeebies Bedtime Stories is on each weekday at 6.50pm on the CBeebies channel and is also available on BBC iPlayer.
Louis Theroux, launches New Podcast, Grounded on BBC Sounds (Monday 27th April)
Documentary maker Louis Theroux, and all-round king of the internet, is entering the podcast space for the first time this month with the new series, Grounded. Available via the BBC Sounds app, the new series will see him speak to high-profile people he hasn’t had a chance to interview before.
The first episode is available on Monday 27th and features an hour-long chat with the writer and fellow documentary maker Jon Ronson. The episode will see the two discuss their professional rivalry and how Ronson is dealing with the lockdown. Other upcoming guests on the show include Lenny Henry, Boy George and Miriam Margoyles.
Chickenshed Theatre: Waiting for the Ship to Sail. (From now)
Waiting for the Ship to Sail was Chickenshed’s latest production when lockdown happened. It’s an artistic response to the urgent and pressing questions of global migration, and investigates the concepts of national and personal identity. Check it out now for free here
Half Moon Theatre at Home (available every Wednesday)
Half Moon Theatre is now offering families access to a selection of recent much-loved productions for young people that will be made available free, for everyone over the coming weeks.
Every Wednesday a new production for young people will be made available online here, alongside access to backstage interviews, production photos and information about how the shows were created.
Productions include the award-winning What Once Was Ours, for ages 12+ and adults, the award-nominated Boy’s Don’t, a Half Moon Presents and Papertale production for ages 8-12 and adults, plus our co-productions with Tangled Feet of Butterflies (ages 3-8) and Need a Little Help (ages 2-7).
Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe (Until Sunday 3 May)
Dominic Dromgoole’s production brings refreshing clarity to one of Shakespeare’s most famous and best-loved tragedies.
ANYTIME….
Some Good News with John Krasinsk (the guy from The Quiet Place!)
Check out John Krasinski who highlights some good news around the world (including weather from Brad Pitt), has NASA astronauts from the International Space Station stop by, and invites you to relive #SGNProm with special guests Billie Eilish, Jonas Brothers, Chance the Rapper, and Rainn Wilson. Check it out here
Tune in and watch Puffin Story-time series!
Settle down for 20 minutes of storytime magic with some of the Penguin authors or follow a fantastic draw along from our amazing illustrators. From picturebook stories and draw alongs to Sam Copeland’s serialisation of his hilarious Charlie Changes into a Chicken tale. Check out their YouTube channel every day for the latest installment in the Puffin Storytime series.
ZSL launch Zoo School!
The team at London and Whipsnade Zoos are bringing the zoo to you!
Whether you’re a teacher needing ready-made learning resources or a parent looking for fantastic animal-themed activities and worksheets to keep your cubs busy, you’ll find fun and engaging curriculum-linked activities for all ages. And they’re all available to use and download completely free.
All the online learning resources you need for home-schooling your little ones about the environment, brought to you by the zookeepers and vets at ZSL London Zoo.
Split into Key stages there’s something for Ages 3-5, 5-7, 7-11 and 11-14
Plus games and activities For more info, go here
Virtual Science Space (Wednesdays)
Celebrating all things Science. Virtual Science Space is offering free science experiments during Lockdown. They’re aiming to help all aspiring scientists, engineers and STEM lovers alike to continue their STEM learning at home.
Sign up to the Virtual Science Space email listing and just before 10.00 am every weekday, you will receive that day’s science experiment video link via email & social media. You’ll receive a video, Short text instructions with required supplies, Full video scripts, link to activity sheet if available
Just before 10.30 am every weekday, hop onto their Facebook page (video section) to join Dr. Joh for a LIVE Q+A session.
All Facebook LIVE sessions will be recorded and posted onto that day’s experiment page after completed so families can view all content afterward if they weren’t able to join in that daySee here to join mailing list and find out more.