A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is Now Streaming From the Royal New Zealand Ballet

A specially-filmed broadcast of the Royal New Zealand Ballet's (RNZB) Ryman Healthcare Season of A Midsummer Night's Dream will welcome the Christmas season and deliver a touch of magic as the curtains close on 2021.

Available for at-home streaming from 3 December for an exclusive ten-day period, the broadcast comes in hot off the back of a sold-out, socially-distanced season in Wellington, after all other tour locations were cancelled due to COVID. From 9.00am Friday, 3 December NZDT, people all over the world will have the chance to delight in fairies, lovers, mischief and moonlight conspiring in one of Shakespeare's most beloved classic tales.

RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker says, "Inspired by the exceptional film productions created by the likes of The National Theatre in London and New York's Metropolitan Opera, we have been making a name for ourselves with our high quality, on-demand broadcasts, shot by the country's best dance videographer, Jeremy Brick.

"Filmed over consecutive performances to capture a true experience of the live performance, including close-ups which take viewers into the heart of the action and brilliance onstage, this wonderful production brings as much joy to the dancers as it does to its delighted audiences. It is a special, sparkly pre-Christmas treat," Barker says.

RNZB Executive Director Lester McGrath says, "The nimble pivot to broadcast for our recent production The Firebird, for which the tour was of course also partially cancelled due to COVID, saw the online production purchased by over 4,000 dance lovers in over 20 countries, reviewed by international reviewers, and viewed by people in places across Aotearoa we can't normally reach by touring. Broadcast makes ballet more accessible to people everywhere and takes the RNZB to ballet lovers overseas.

"Generously, Ryman Healthcare's sponsorship of A Midsummer Night's Dream covers the work both onstage and onscreen - a partnership which is the first of its kind in New Zealand and one for which we are very grateful," McGrath says.

The RNZB's A Midsummer Night's Dream broadcast is available via Tikstream (Minimum NZ$15. Suggested: NZ$20, with additional donations welcome). Once purchased, Tikstream will send a unique access code and a link via email. The access code can only be used on one device and is live from 9.00am Friday, 3 December NZDT to 11.59pm Sunday, 12 December NZDT. There is an option to cast the broadcast to TV, if the device allows.

Unlike previous RNZB broadcasts, this will not be extended given the pending Christmas period. Don't miss out.

More info and to purchase tickets: Here

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