Small Island, National Theatre At Home review – big-hearted story hits every beat

★★★★★ SMALL ISLAND, NT AT HOME Big-hearted story hits every beat

Andrea Levy's Windrush epic bursts triumphantly onto the stage – and our screens

A British-Jamaican man is confused. It's the Second World War, and he signed up for the RAF on the understanding that he would serve as a pilot overseas. But instead he's ended up as ground crew in a grey Lincolnshire village. "You are overseas, aren't you?" sneers his sergeant.

Theatre Lockdown Special 10: Epic plays from the National Theatre and Broadway alongside voices raised in protest

LOCKDOWN SPECIAL 10 Epic plays from the National Theatre and Broadway alongside voices raised in protest

The state of Britain then and now gets a look-in, as do animals in human form

As lockdown continues, National Theatre at Home has announced its final sequence of plays, and several of the very best are being saved for last. That certainly applies to this week's offering, Small Island, whose dissection of Britain's racist past couldn't be timelier.

Theatre Lockdown Special 8: A film star plays tough, and several familiar titles are examined anew

THEATRE LOCKDOWN SPECIAL 8: Tom Hiddleston reminds us of his stage roots, as does Christopher Walken as Captain Hook

Tom Hiddleston reminds us of his stage roots, as does Christopher Walken as Captain Hook

As we continue into a third month in lockdown, the arts continue to suggest ever-changing worlds beyond. The invaluable National Theatre at Home this week looks across the Thames to a smaller venue's large-scale Coriolanus, starring a certain superhero movie icon, whilst the equally cherished Graeae streams their lively musical theatre tribute to the late Ian Dury.

This House, National Theatre at Home review – timely revival of brilliant House of Commons drama

★★★★ THIS HOUSE, NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME Timely revival of brilliant House of Commons drama

James Graham acutely perceives the obsessions and motivations of our times

There is a line of argument that – unfairly – blames playwright James Graham for Dominic Cummings. Would Cummings, some might ask, have achieved the influence he has now if it hadn’t been for his depiction in Graham’s brilliant TV drama Brexit: The Uncivil War in which he was played as an obsessive genius by Benedict Cumberbatch? 

Barber Shop Chronicles, National Theatre at Home review - still lively after all these years

★★★★ BARBER SHOP CHRONICLES, NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME Barbershop banter and the place it occupies in black male identity

Barbershop banter and the place it occupies in black male identity

Barber shops – as we are all starting to appreciate in this time of lockdown – fulfil an emotional as much as a cosmetic role: having a haircut can represent a new beginning, a moment for reflection, or even an informal confessional.

Theatre Lockdown Special 5: A solo show for the ages, Ibsen refreshed, and yet more frolicsome cats

THEATRE LOCKDOWN SPECIAL 5: A solo show for the ages, Ibsen refreshed, and yet more frolicsome cats

From a much-traveled one-man play to a continent-spanning National Theatre premiere, the theatrical week offers plenty so savour

No one can accuse the gods of streaming of failing to cast a wide net. That's even more so with an array of streaming opportunities over the next week that ranges from Off West End Ibsen given a second chance to shine to an online encounter with, yes, The Encounter, and, should you wish, with its protean creator and leading man, as well.

Antony and Cleopatra, National Theatre at Home review – Fiennes and Okonedo triumph in dragging tragedy

★★★ ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME A triumvirate of talent and a slick set can't speed things along

A triumvirate of talent and a slick set can't in themselves speed things along

Like an asp eating its own tail, the National Theatre's 2018 production of Antony and Cleopatra, streaming on YouTube until 14 May, begins as it will end. Director Simon Godwin's first tableau is the play's finale: Cleopatra (Sophie Okonedo) lies in queenly repose, a snakebite on her neck; her servants, Charmian (Gloria Obianyo) and Iras (Georgia Landers), slump around her.

Theatre Lockdown Special 4: Little-known Lloyd Webber, prize-winning Shakespeare, and starry David Mamet

THEATRE LOCKDOWN SPECIAL 4 Little-known Lloyd Webber, prize-winning Shakespeare, and starry David Mamet

In an ever-busy week, the Donmar and Finborough join the online bustle

Has anyone else noticed how fulltime this streaming thing has become?  Those who were of a mind to (and who never slept) could find enough cultural output to satisfy 24/7, especially if one adds to the free offerings that crop up by the week the ongoing back catalogue made available on sites such as Marquee TV or Digital Theatre, and the like.

Frankenstein, National Theatre at Home review – creature discomforts

★★★★ FRANKENSTEIN, NATIONAL THEATRE AT HOME Danny Boyle's 2011 production starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller

NT Live version of this iconic tale of creative hubris features a dynamic acting duo

So far, it could be said that the National Theatre is having a good lockdown. Every week, this flagship streams one of its stock of NT Live films, which are always a welcome reminder of the range of its output over the past decade or so.

Theatre Lockdown Special 3: Mary Shelley twice over, Europe writ large, and one day more for a mega-musical

Sonnets galore also form part of another busy week amidst bizarre times

Time is moving in mysterious ways at the moment. It's been possible over the last month or so to mark out the beginning of each week with the arrival online of a different production streaming from the Hampstead Theatre archives.