The best theatre to stream this month: tailoring comedy Alterations gets a fitting tribute

The Guardian

01-08-2025

Almost 10 years after his death and nearly 50 after it was written, Guyana-born British playwright Michael Abbensetts' tailoring comedy arrived at the National Theatre in February for Rufus Norris's final season. Its director, Lynette Linton, hailed the decision to put it on 'one of the biggest stages in the country, and highlight how incredible this man and his generation of writers were'. A triumph for Linton, it should encourage others to delve into the NT's Black Plays Archive. Available from NT at Home from 12 August.
There's more transfixing tailoring in this 2024 dance production marking the 300th anniversary of Bach's oratorio. The always arresting German choreographer Sasha Waltz introduces her dancers, in the nude, adjusting their smocks at sewing machines before donning the costumes for a spellbinding performance. On Arte.
Tianzhuo Chen's 12-hour 'theatre-rave' Trance, recently staged at London's Southbank Centre, provokes some extreme reactions. 'People say it's the best performance ever,' says Chen. 'They feel healed, cleansed.' Then again: 'Some people really don't like it!' Incredibly, the whole thing – shot in 2024 – is on YouTube, so you can make up your own mind.
It's the song of the summer in the West End, enchanting passersby outside the Palladium where it's delivered from the balcony by Rachel Zegler (and her alternate, Bella Brown, who also has an incredible voice) in an alfresco swerve during Jamie Lloyd's production. If you can't catch it live, Zegler's recording of the Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Webber perennial is now available.
The mix tape is having a moment, thanks to a new BBC romantic drama. But in playwright and performer Azan Ahmed's solo show, the tape unspools a teacher's relationship with his father. Esme Allman's production, seen at the Bush theatre in 2024, is available from the Theatre Channel.
With music and lyrics by Caroline Wigmore and Jen Green, Golden Toad Theatre's audio musical on YouTube is based on the book by Gillian Hibbs about a green-fingered boy whose gardening projects grow all over his family's flat. Aimed at children aged three to eight, it should brighten up summer journeys or rainy days at home.
IJAD Dance Company is on a mission to put technology at the heart of performance in order to 'future-proof the arts and transform audience engagement'. In June it presented a hybrid theatre festival both online and at Hammersmith Studios. Five of those shows are now available on demand at Open Online Theatre until 4 August.
Arsema Thomas, who landed a breakout role in Bridgerton prequel Queen Charlotte shortly after leaving Lamda, makes her professional stage debut at Richmond's Orange Tree in a comedy spun from the stories of Saint Clare and Saint Francis of Assisi. Written by Chiara Atik, it's directed by Blanche McIntyre and co-stars Freddy Carter. Available 12-15 August.