Poll: Are blockbuster theatre broadcasts upstaging the real thing?
Whether you live in Wem, Ludlow or even Aston-on-Clun, big shows broadcast live from London are now on your doorstep.
The popularity of live screenings from venues such as the National Theatre and the Royal Opera House has exploded in recent years, making big shows more accessible than ever.
The phenomenon is a boon for Shropshire venues – but there are also concerns that, as the trend takes off, it may squeeze out the work of smaller touring companies as they compete for a time slot on theatre venue programmes.
There is no doubt among theatre operators, however, that the new technology is bringing theatre to a wider audience.
Live performances of National Theatre shows such as War Horse and Danny Boyle's production of Frankenstein, with Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch, have proved hugely successful with audiences more than 150 miles away in Shropshire.
Do live screenings of London plays hit regional theatre productions? Vote in our poll and have your say in the comment box below.
Sian Kerry, director of Arts Alive, an organisation that puts on both live events and screenings in Shropshire and Herefordshire, said the screenings were also proving an essential revenue stream for cash-strapped rural theatres.
