National Theatre Collection

The best of British Theatre is now available to stream for schools, universities, and the wider education sector. Free for all UK state schools (primary and secondary) and FE colleges.

It is now an irreplaceable part of our curriculum. Thank you so much for it.

Are you a state school looking to sign up to the Collection for free? Sign up below!

Celebrating five years of National Theatre Collection in schools

Students sit on the floor watching a theatrical performance on a large monitor in a classroom. The screen displays actors on stage with jungle scenery. Classroom walls have educational posters and lists.

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More theatre magic in the classroom

The National Theatre Collection is now bigger and better than ever, with 70 productions available to inspire learning within the classroom.

Gain access to curriculum classics such as Othello and As You Like It, world-class new writing Romeo and Julie and Dixon and Daughters, and a specially adapted version of Hamlet for primary-aged pupils. These are all contained within National Theatre Collection 3.

In partnership with the Unicorn Theatre, bright and imaginative new productions are available for primary students, including Greek myths and adaptations of Grimm Tales.

Teachers and students can access learning resources, which include short films, synopses, key learnings and rehearsal diaries, enriching the experience of the plays in the classroom.

Othello stands centre stage on a raised platform, his fist raised, surrounded by figures in expressive poses.

Othello by William Shakespeare
Directed by Clint Dyer, photo by Myah Jeffers

Callum Scott Howells and Rosie Sheehy on stage in Romeo and Julie

Romeo & Julie by Gary Owen (co-production with the Sherman Theatre)
Directed by Rachel O’Riordan, photo by Marc Brenner

Free for UK state secondary schools & FE colleges

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NT Collection title: Peter Pan
Directed by Sally Cookson, devised by the Company, based on the works of JM Barrie
National Theatre & Bristol Old Vic co-production, 2016
Photograph by Steve Tanner

The National Theatre Collection is available to stream in the classroom and at home once a school is signed up, offering the best seats in the house whenever you want. Now home to 70 high quality filmed theatre productions from the National Theatre and other leading venues.

You will also be able to access resources, such as rehearsal diaries and short films. These can help students to understand the plays and the theatre-making process. 89% of UK state secondary schools are already signed up.

Free for UK state primary schools

The Queen and King, wearing crowns and matching green suits, and other members of the court, dancing enthusiastically.

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National Theatre Collection for primary schools

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Our new bespoke offering for primary schools features 15 age-appropriate productions. Bringing stories to life on stage, they introduce younger children to the magic and spectacle of theatre.

Our tailored learning resources also support creative learning across the curriculum.

Fee-paying schools & international

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NT Collection title: Angels in America
by Tony Kushner, directed by Marianne Elliott
National Theatre, 2017
Photo by Helen Maybanks

The National Theatre Collection is available to UK fee-paying schools and worldwide educational institutions as a resource from Bloomsbury on their award-winning platform, Drama Online. It is also available from renowned EdTech leader, ProQuest on their digital library Alexander Street.

The National Theatre Collection is available as three modules, which can be purchased separately or as a full package. There are 30 productions in the first Collection, 20 in the second and 20 in the third. The Third Collection is exclusively available via Bloomsbury, through Drama Online. A full breakdown of the different modules are found via the links to Bloomsbury and ProQuest.

Purchasing the Collection is available in two models: a one-time payment or an annual subscription.

Free for UK public libraries

A theatrical stage scene featuring six actors in various poses. The set includes vintage furniture, a red rug, scattered papers, and atmospheric lighting. One actor stands reading a magazine, while others interact and move around the stage.

NT Collection title: The Seagull
by Anton Chekhov (adapted by David Hare), directed by Michael Oakley
National Theatre, 2016
Photo by Johan Persson

Following a successful pilot with Wolverhampton Central Library and Peterborough Central Library, 20 productions from the National Theatre Collection 3 are now also available to access for free in local public libraries across the UK to library members, making it easier than ever to watch theatre.

Productions

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Productions for primary schools

National Theatre titles

Shakespeare for younger audiences: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale
Literary adaptations: Jane Eyre*, Peter Pan and Treasure Island (pictured, by Johan Persson)
NT Let’s Play Programme: Story Seekers
Musicals: Hex*, I Want My Hat Back and wonder.land*

*Hex, Jane Eyre and wonder.land contain content that may be inappropriate for young ages. However, they have been used successfully by Year 6 teachers and are included here for those who wish to use it. Content warnings are provided where applicable.

Unicorn Theatre titles

Anansi the Spider Re-Spun
Greek Myths Unplugged: Ariadne on the Beach, Jessie and the Jellybeans and Narcissus
Phillip Pullman’s Grimm Tales: Little Red Riding Hood and Rumpelstiltskin
In collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company: The Magic Finger

A man in a white shirt and beige trousers gestures with his hand, facing a woman in a green dress sitting on a chair. They are on a dimly lit stage with a starry background and several chairs scattered around. The woman holds a bag on her lap.

Productions for secondary schools: English

Shakespeare: As You Like It, Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse), Hamlet, Julius Caesar (Bridge Theatre), King Lear (Donmar Warehouse), Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night
Literary adaptations: The Book of Dust, Everyman, Frankenstein, Jack Absolute Flies Again, Jane Eyre, Phaedra, Small Island (pictured, by Johan Persson), Under Milk Wood, The Wife of Willesden (Kiln Theatre) and Wuthering Heights
20th century classics: A View from the Bridge (Young Vic), All My Sons (Old Vic), Les Blancs and Translations
New writing: Consent, Hex, Dixon & Daughters, Our Generation and Shut Up, I’m Dreaming (The PappyShow)

A production shot of Ashley McGuire in 'Top Girls', directed by Lyndsey Turner, National Theatre 2019 featuring Ashley McGuire as Dull Gret standing on a table

Productions for secondary school: Drama & Theatre Studies

Greek tragedy: Antigone and Medea
American classics: A Streetcar Named Desire (Young Vic), Angels in America, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Young Vic) and Les Blancs
20th century classics: The Deep Blue Sea, Top Girls (pictured, by Johan Persson) and Trouble in Mind
European classics reimagined: The Cherry Orchard, Hedda Gabler, Three Sisters, The Threepenny Opera and Yerma (Young Vic)
Contemporary plays: Barber Shop Chronicles, Chewing Gum Dreams, The Great Wave, Julie, Rockets and Blue Lights and Romeo & Julie
Verbatim theatre: Home

A production photo of 'wonder.land' at the National Theatre in 2015 featuring a female actor dressed in an Alice costume with an actor dressed in a large silver suit holding an umbrella and another actor dressed in a school uniform

Productions for Technical Theatre & Production Arts

Greek tragedy: Paradise
Classic comedies: One Man, Two Guvnors, She Stoops to Conquer & London Assurance
New writing: This House, Dara, After Life & wonder.land (pictured, by Brinkhoff/Moegenburg)

FAQs

Is the NT Collection available to watch from home?

In partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing, the NT Collection is available from home, for free, by students in UK state-funded schools. Students will be able to watch all 70 productions via Drama Online. They will also be able to access learning resources and short form video content.

I’m a student, how do I get more information or sign up for this?

The registration form must be filled out by a member of staff at your school. Please get in touch with one of your teachers to ask about gaining access.

What happens if the login is shared beyond teachers and students?

The NT Collection is strictly to be accessed only by teachers and students at verified schools and institutions. We have, with the support of artists, been able to secure specific rights for educational use. We will be monitoring online use of the Collection, and any evidence of logins being shared beyond authorised access will result in the account being blocked and service suspended.

I’m a teacher and having difficulty with the sign-up process. Who can I talk to?

Please email support@jcsonlineresources.org

Is the National Theatre Collection different to National Theatre On Demand In Schools?

Yes. The National Theatre Collection draws on ten years of NT Live broadcasts, alongside recordings never seen before outside of the National Theatre Archive, giving you a more diverse selection of productions. On Demand In Schools has been closed down.

As a UK state school do I have to re-subscribe to access?

No, only one person per school should register and no re-registration is necessary. New productions will automatically be added to state-schools’ subscriptions.

What’s the difference between Bloomsbury and ProQuest?

Bloomsbury (whose platform is Drama Online) and ProQuest (whose platform is Alexander Street) are both distributors of the Collection and have slightly different offerings, so it depends on your preference.

Do I have to belong to an educational organisation to access the NT Collection?

Not solely. The NT Collection is available to educational institutions, but also to public libraries. If you are individual, you can subscribe to NT at Home which makes our productions available to stream from home.

Can I stream shows as a home educator?

Not currently. Unfortunately, due to our rights agreements, we are only able to license subscriptions for the Collection to verified educational institutions or providers of online learning programmes and not to individual parents, teachers or private tutors. We are happy to say that you can now watch the Third Collection titles from UK public libraries, please do contact your local library for more information, or find out how to get your library signed up here.

As a paying subscriber how do I access the new productions?

To access the new titles you will need to top-up your subscription. Please get in touch with Bloomsbury or ProQuest (whomever you purchased through) to update your subscription. Please bear in mind that the Third Collection is only available via Bloomsbury.

Can I buy individual productions?

No, productions in the NT Collection are only available as part of a complete module.

Young people performing during The Witches schools workshop

Introducing our teacher resources

Discover the Learning Hub, our new library of teaching resources to complement productions on the NT Collection and a range of tools to explore creativity in the classroom and support the teaching of set texts.

Teaching resources

Our funders

Lead philanthropic support from Richard and Kara Gnodde.

NT Collection is made possible in primary schools by the Hearn Foundation, as the Principal Funder of the Primary Schools programme. NT Collection is also supported by The Attwood Education Foundation, Delta Air Lines, Mike Staunton, The Michael Marks Charitable Trust, The Oakley Charitable Trust, and The Eyre Family Foundation.

The Mohn Westlake Foundation supports nationwide Learning programmes for young people. Nationwide learning is supported by Buffini Chao Foundation, Clore Duffield Foundation, Crevan O’Grady & Jane McClenahan, MFPA Trust Fund for the Training of Disabled Children in the Arts, The Kartik Foundation, Behrens Foundation, Marlow Trust, Cleopatra Trust, and The Andor Charitable Trust.

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