Keeping Occupied 

In this section we will try and put together information about some of the stuff that's popping up online to keep us entertained, or to help us learn new skills. Scroll down for information, and click on the links to the right.

Any more ideas and discoveries would be very welcome!

Webinars and Videos

Over the last year, more and more organisations have started offering fascinating webinars at really low prices, with access to videos of past ones free through their YouTube channels. 

Two examples:

• London Walks: a range of virtual walks around London, with one or two extras, such as Roman Bath, starting from £8.
• Guide London: You can actually book a private virtual tour of London with one of the famous Blue Badge Guides (no pricing information here unfortunately). However, they have also made videos of previous virtual tours available through YouTube. And they are FREE.

-----------------------------------------

Theatre and Musicals

Amsterdam, Orange Tree Theatre

Maya Arad Yasur's acclaimed play about the legacy of the Holocaust on Europe's present will be available to stream from 7.30pm GMT on all Orange Tree Theatre platforms. It will be available for 'a limited time' though it's not stipulated when it will end. 

**********************

National Theatre at Home YouTube Channel

The NT is now charging a subscription. £8.32 a month, or £83.32 a year, offers unlimited access to a wide range of productions plus behind-the-scenes extras. 

**********************

Cheek by Jowl Theatre

Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale The iconic theatre company has brought back the archive recording of its hit version of Shakespeare's problem play, which was captured live at the Barbican in 2017. Initially meant to be around for only one month, it is still showing through their website. 

-----------------------------------------

The Life and Adventure of Nicholas Nickleby, with Roger Reese

Does anyone remember this incredible RSC production? All 9 hours of it? Still being offered through a 7-day Free Trial period with Broadway HD, as part of Amazon Prime. 

-----------------------------------------

Globe Player - Shakespeare's Globe's digital platform.

More than 130 professionally filmed plays from the Globe's vaults, mostly Shakespeare, but also a couple of other tragedies including The Duchess of Malfi, starring Gemma Arterton.

Cost: From £5 to rent, £12 to own.

-----------------------------------------

Free Online Study

The Open University

A series of short courses are available free through the Open University 'Open Learn' website. The courses are short and accessible - they do not count towards a degree, but represent aspects of all OUs main subject areas. 

Ivy League

The eight Ivy League schools in America have between them made available a staggering 450 courses free online. There's got to be something in there that takes your interest!

Interested in Science? Visit The Royal Institution's YouTube channel, where they have made a large number of brief talks and explanations on various aspect of science available. 

Ancient Sites & Virtual Tours

3D modelling has provided four virtual tours of ancient sites courtesy of the Egyptian Tourist Board: 

• The 5,000-year-old tomb of Queen Meresankh III
• The Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq, on Cairo's historic thoroughfare, Sharia Al Muizz
• The Coptic Red Monastery in Upper Egypt
• The Ben Erza Synagogue - founded, the story goes, on the site where Moses was discovered.