Adelaide sees the best of the latest British plays, thanks to NT Live proving that all the world’s stage by taking NT productions to cinemas worldwide.

The National Theatre of the United Kingdom, on London’s Thames South Bank, was inspired to film live plays after the success of the New York Metropolitan Opera filmed The Magic Flute in 2006 and broadcast it to 100 cinemas worldwide.

Since 2009, National Theatre Live has expanded to 2,500 cinemas across 70 countries and reached 11 million grateful theatregoers.   

Initially, there was scepticism about the concept. Would a film cannibalise live theatre audiences?
It’s done the opposite and grown into a department of the theatre dedicated to capturing classics and new works. It has innovated how shows are filmed and made almost 90% of the repertoire available free to educational institutions.  National Theatre director Rufus Norris (2016-2025) said it was a “force for good” for both audiences and the industry and increased theatre attendance. 

Not like the old school days film excursion

Many of us will remember a schooldays film excursion involving a Shakespeare play in black and white filmed with one camera planted in the last row of the stalls. We were thrilled to be just anywhere out of the classroom for a few hours but it left us with a dread of filmed plays and, unfortunately, Shakespeare.  

To remedy all that, National Theatre Live captures most of the feeling of live theatre. At two technical dress rehearsals, the director, production manager and camera operators refine what action and closeups the six cameras will capture.  Every line of dialogue has a direction note and what the director and sometimes the playwright intended, is reviewed in post production to ensure the overall feel of the play is preserved. NT Live film audiences love that what they see is one live performance – not several nights edited together.   

It’s fun to be a in a cinema when audiences are so engrossed that they applaud at the end of the filmed play.

Actors in NT Live productions have admitted to some extra nervousness, knowing their performance will be beamed to hundreds of cinemas live throughout UK and Europe.  Half of the royalties from NT Live going to the actors may help calm those nerves.

Australian playwright, Suzie Miller has two National Theatre hit plays

In Adelaide, we get the productions a few weeks behind but we still have the best seat in the house for $23-$25. It’s amazing to see empty seats in Adelaide at these prices but Prima Facie broke all records worldwide and helped more locals discover NT Live. Inter Alia, by writer Suzie Miller, was a followup (in cinemas September and October 2025) and helped drive wider audiences.

Find out more about NT Live plays coming up in 2026

NT Live overview of all their filmed productions, here.

For a clever trailer, The Best Seat in the House, filmed with Benedict Cumberbatch.
We give this the ‘Best Theatre Ad’ award.

Also, check with cinemas. Palace Nova, Wallis and Capri all screen NT Live. Films are listed under “Special Events’.