Welcome to the Digital Stage

Australian storytelling for the many, not the few.

#AusTheatreLive

Australian Theatre Live uses advances in digital technology to film live performance theatre with distribution across the country and around the world, regardless of distance, availability or affordability.

We believe it is absolutely vital that we record and preserve our playwriting, performing and stage production heritage. We invite all people to enjoy, criticise and participate in the development of our artistic heritage.

By supporting ATLive, you will be contributing to one of the most exciting and innovative ventures in this country’s live performance industry.

Our Principles

Not-for-profit

Every dollar supports artists in our theatre and film industries

Worldwide

Promotes Australian theatre around the globe

State of the Art

The latest in digital technologies

Preserved Forever

An archive of our live performance heritage

For the Many

Theatre performance for all Australians

Australian Writing

Storytelling that reflects our entire culture

Our partners

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Creative Partnerships Aus

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Independent Cinema Association

WindmillTheatre

MalthouseTheatre

StateTheatreSA

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RedLine

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Last month we were thrilled to digitally capture Q

Last month we were thrilled to digitally capture Queensland Theatre's world premiere season of Steve Pirie's RETURN TO THE DIRT. This capture is now available for just ONE WEEK (until 9 December) via Queensland Theatre Digital.

Tickets are $25 per household, or, if you’re a member with RACQ you can save 50% off the digital ticket price! Book now and experience the refreshing honesty and wit of this award-winning work as it explores what it’s like to work in the funeral industry of regional Queensland.

Learn more and book your digital ticket at https://bit.ly/QTDigital

📸 by David Kelly

#QueenslandTheatre #QTReturnToTheDirt #QTAtHome

RAZOR-SHARP. THOUGHT-PROVOKING. SURPRISING.

In the mood for a timely laugh-out-loud parody of our surveillance society? Look no further than our capture of Liberty Equality Fraternity - produced by Sydney’s famous Ensemble Theatre and starring Caroline Brazier.

"Orlagh O’Connor has never considered herself a threat to national security. So why is she under surveillance and being interrogated? Is it a case of mistaken identity? Or does the odd young man interviewing her actually have a case?"

With sizzling dialogue, Geoffrey Atherden cleverly puts Australian culture and politics under the microscope, highlighting the fine line between our impulse to share information with the social media world (Facebook, etc), and our right to privacy.

Stream today via our website.

SATIRICAL. FAST-PACED. WISECRACKING. So you're

SATIRICAL. FAST-PACED. WISECRACKING.

So you're in the mood for a razor-sharp comedy? How about a satire about the entertainment industries? Look no further than our capture of David Williamson's Emerald City - a Griffin Theatre Company production, directed by Lee Lewis & starring Mitchell Butel.

"Fading screenwriter Colin is not long in Sydney before he’s seduced by its obsession with success. Teaming up with well-connected hack writer Mike, Colin finds himself in a tug of war between artistic ambition and big bucks. Fame and fortune – not to mention Mike’s criminally hot girlfriend – are up for grabs."

Part love letter, part hate mail to the harbour city, Emerald City is one of the best works by Australian theatre’s most beloved craftsman and commentator, David Williamson.

Stream today via our website.

MOVING. MAGICAL. TIMELESS. In the mood for

MOVING. MAGICAL. TIMELESS.

In the mood for some classic Australian drama? Look no further than our capture of Michael Gow's Away - a Sydney Theatre Company / Malthouse Theatre co-production, directed by Matthew Lutton.

"It’s the summer of 1967, and three families head away for a beach holiday. Set against a backdrop of war and social revolution, they find themselves caught up in their own storm of secrets and conflict."

Michael Gow’s iconic Australian play explores themes of loss and change, as three mothers deal with their own personal grief and their attempt at letting go. Relationships are pushed to the edge as secrets are exposed and the pressure of social change takes its toll.

Stream today via our website.

What are you watching on your big screen this week

What are you watching on your big screen this weekend? Nothing on Netflix catching your eye? Why not support the local arts industry and tune in to some Australian theatre?

ATLive currently have 6 terrific Aussie plays streaming online (with MANY more to come...). Digital hires range between $6.79 and $14.99 and you can watch as many times as you like (and with as many sets of eye balls as you want 👀 ) within a 48 hour period.

Whether you're in the mood for some political satire, new age edgy drama, fun for the whole family, warts-and-all comedy or laugh-out-loud parody, we've got something for you!

Discover the On Demand library today at https://australiantheatre.live/on-demand-2/

Some cheeky BTS snaps from filming Norm and Ahmed

Some cheeky BTS snaps from filming Norm and Ahmed (and the subsequent Q&A) last Saturday!

Though you can no longer catch this production onstage at Riverside Parramatta, it'll be back early 2022 ONLINE thanks to our live capture - so 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱! We can't wait to share this iconic piece of Australian theatre far and wide, and for many years to come.

More reviews for Norm and Ahmed that we just HAVE

More reviews for Norm and Ahmed that we just HAVE to share!

"Coy fully personifies Norm’s stocky, nuggety belligerence… as the little 45-minute play wore on, he became ever more convincing"
"Rajan Velu crafts a dignified Ahmed, who lets us know he is one step ahead of Norm (at least until the brutal end) without letting Norm know"
"The great sadness about this pivotal work of Australian theatre is that Norm is neither less grotesque nor less believable than he was in 1968"
- 𝙎𝙮𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙙 ✨

"A powerful piece of theatre... filled with menace"
"Laurence Coy as the belligerent racist Norm and Rajan Velu as the quietly spoken and well-educated Ahmed were very well cast. Their strong performances were believable and complemented by the gritty set design of a late-night city bus stop."
- 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 ✨

"Coy’s perfectly manipulative Norm contrasted against Velu’s Ahmed, who tread carefully throughout their socio-political discourse... The dynamic between Coy and Ahmed worked perfectly"
"Australian Theatre Live’s production of Norm and Ahmed did well to examine the cross-cultural (and cross-generational) exchange between the ‘old’ and ‘new’ Australia's"
- 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨 ✨

"Directing team Aarne Neeme and Terence Clarke worked to maintain the integrity of the original text while demonstrating how easily the situation translates into a modern Sydney"
"The production design worked well to recontextualise the 50-year-old script in the current day with an immersive and immediately recognisable street-scape"
- 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 ✨

❤️

Our season of Norm and Ahmed may have closed, but

Our season of Norm and Ahmed may have closed, but the reviews are still rolling in - and they sure are good! Thank you Theatre Now for the ⭐⭐⭐⭐'s!

We're thrilled to have live captured the show, so if you missed out (or simply want to reexperience the magic) - stay tuned for the DIGITAL version coming to you in early 2022.

Read some of what Christina Donoghue writing for Theatre Now had to say:

"Both actors, Coy and Velu, bounced off each other with precision. Coy possessing the ambiguity of Norm in a way that was subtle and sobering, Velu communicating his mistrust and his hope in a way that was eerie and heartbreaking."

"Aarne Neeme (Production Director) and Terence Clarke (Associate Director), have done what good directors do, in letting this piece be character driven, without the bells and whistles to distract you from the gut-wrenching scene before you"

"As a study of entrenched racism married with toxic masculinity, Norm and Ahmed was well executed and entirely horrifying"

Congratulations again to the team and thank you to everyone who supported bringing this terrific show from page to stage.

📷 by Becky Matthews

Closing night tonight at @riversideparra!

Closing night tonight at @riversideparra!

CONGRATULATIONS to this beautiful team who close N

CONGRATULATIONS to this beautiful team who close Norm and Ahmed tonight at Riverside Theatres. It has been an enormous joy bringing this production to life and taking a huge step as a company (our first time producing the show as well as capturing it!) with such a fantastic group of creatives.

And THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us, whether that be through our crowdfunding campaign or by coming to the theatre to see the show on the stage. You've been so warm and so receptive, and we've loved welcoming you back after our Covid forced hiatus. How wonderful it has been to reoccupy a performance space together.

Tickets are still available for tonight's 7.30PM show, which will be live captured by ATL. Join us for the unique experience of not only seeing an extraordinary show, but also the rare insight into the process of capturing a live theatre performance for the screen. Help us close this season on a high and celebrate Australian writing, local artists and the return of live theatre!

#australiantheatre #moreplacesfortheatre #theatre #AusTheatreSpotlight #digitaltheatre #digital #Sydney #AusTheatreLive #performingarts #independenttheatre #arts #supportthearts #normandahmed #australianplays #australianwriting #parramatta #riversidetheatres #normandahmedATL #alexbuzo

Rajan Velu may be a new addition to this productio

Rajan Velu may be a new addition to this production, but his contribution has been enormous. His Ahmed is unlike any rendition of the role we've seen before, and we are so excited for audiences to experience his impressive take on it.

Sydney Scoop writes "Ahmed's character, as played by Rajan Velu, bounces off beautifully from Coy's… The initial caution and reticence of Ahmed to engage with Norm is clearly visible. So is the softening of Ahmed's guard to fall under Norm's spell."

Catch Rajan and Laurence onstage tonight and tomorrow at 7.30PM. Don't miss out!

🎟️ Book at bit.ly/atlnormahmed 🎟️

Photography by Becky Matthews

#australiantheatre #moreplacesfortheatre #theatre #AusTheatreSpotlight #digitaltheatre #digital #Sydney #AusTheatreLive #performingarts #independenttheatre #arts #supportthearts #normandahmed #normandahmedATL #australianplays #australianwriting #alexbuzo #parramatta #riversidetheatres

Check out what audiences are saying about Norm and

Check out what audiences are saying about Norm and Ahmed!

"My friend and I really enjoyed the production which we thought was still very relevant despite the passage of time."

“I watched the play [Wednesday] night and was there for the Q&A – so great to be back in the theatre and fantastic to see so many students participate and be engaged – such a wonderful production from the team and also to hear from the actors and the explanation of the set. Well done to all”

"Wow! What an amazing performance. Norm was the original “ocker” especially in his speech and pronunciation. His delivery brought many laughs from the audience. I thought he was so believable and displayed a roller coaster of emotions. Ahmed was the perfect foil and his subtle digs were brilliant. Both actors deserve big congratulations for making you really feel you were part of the action be it as a bystander on a grim city street."

"It was a really enjoyable evening."

In summary: don't miss it!

Only two more shows till we close - book your tickets at bit.ly/atlnormahmed

#moreplacesfortheatre #australiantheatre #theatre #AusTheatreSpotlight #digitaltheatre #digital #sydney #AusTheatreLive #performingarts #independenttheatre #arts #supportthearts #normandahmed #normandahmedATL #australianplays #australianwriting

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