Sky has announced that it is bringing six new, original plays to high definition TV on the Sky Arts HD channel.
Six best-selling authors have written the plays, with five established directors overseeing proceedings, and twenty actors taking part.
Sky Arts: Theatre Live! will air from July on Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 1 HD.
Sky Arts Theatre Live! will see six highly successful authors make their debuts as playwrights collaborating with lauded directors and high-profile actors to create original plays, performed to a live audience in the purpose built Sky Arts Theatre Live! studio. The Sky Arts Theatre Live! company is led by artistic director Sandi Toksvig, and includes author Kate Mosse, actress Pauline Collins and director John Alderton.
Rehearsals for Sky Arts Theatre Live! will begin at The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond in June, giving the creative team just three weeks to not only mount a brand new theatre production, but to stage a live television programme. The programme, hosted by Sandi Toksvig, will be introduced with unparalleled, behind the scenes access to the 'making of' each production, charting the highs and lows of producing for stage and screen simultaneously.
Following the world premiere performance of each play, both the audience at home and in studio will be encouraged to offer their response and reaction, adding another dimension to the traditional theatrical experience. The full creative team behind each play - actors, writer and director - will discuss the process in a live post-show discussion.
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