January brings a sensational line-up of theatre and performance to stream directly to your home. From a legendary farce that launched a Hollywood career to baroque music meets breakdancing, there is something for every cultural appetite this month.
Comedy Classic and Musical Extravaganza
One Man, Two Guvnors, the riotous farce that became a global phenomenon, is available to stream worldwide from 13 January. Richard Bean's brilliant adaptation relocates Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters from 18th-century Venice to the British seaside in the 1960s. The production was a smash hit at the National Theatre in 2011 and famously served as James Corden's springboard to international fame. A filmed version of Nicholas Hytner's original production captivated over two million viewers during the first lockdown in 2020 and now returns via NT at Home.
For fans of show-stopping tunes, Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery offers a glitzy celebration. Hosted by Jason Manford in Manchester, the event features performances from some of the biggest musicals of 2025. The line-up includes Carrie Hope Fletcher as Calamity Jane and Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, with special guests Billy Porter, Layton Williams, and Ruthie Henshall. This spectacular is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Innovative Drama and Dance
Audio drama enthusiasts can delve into the gothic with Original Theatre's new series, The Unquiet Podcast: Stories for Dark Nights. The series opens with an adaptation of E. Nesbit's The Mass for the Dead, a haunting tale of lost love, enhanced by immersive sound design and music from Max Pappenheim. It's an experience designed to be enjoyed in the dark.
Dance highlights this month include an elegant winter escape with the Royal Ballet's Les Patineurs. This recorded performance from 2010 showcases Frederick Ashton's charming fantasy of skaters on a frozen pond, providing an entrancing half-hour of ballet. Meanwhile, Breaking Bach presents a thrilling fusion of classical and contemporary culture. This film follows choreographer Kim Brandstrup's acclaimed project with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, which uses breakdancing to interpret the music of J.S. Bach for young audiences. It is available to stream on MarqueeTV.
Award-Winning Theatre and New Thrillers
Shakespeare gets a thoughtful update in the Stratford Festival's 2023 production of Much Ado About Nothing. Directed by Chris Abraham, the play is bookended by new scenes from feminist playwright Erin Shields, granting the character Hero greater agency and depth. This clever staging adds a new glow to the classic comedy and is available via Stratfest@Home.
From the Donmar Warehouse comes the powerful UK premiere of Next to Normal, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about a family navigating mental illness. Michael Longhurst's searing production, filmed during its West End transfer, is now available from National Theatre at Home. For those seeking suspense, Original Theatre presents Murder at Midnight, a new comedy thriller by Torben Betts set at a deadly New Year's Eve party in rural Kent. A filmed version of Philip Franks' production, starring Jason Durr, is available throughout January.
This month's streaming selection proves that world-class theatre, innovative dance, and gripping drama are more accessible than ever, offering a cultural feast from the comfort of your living room.
