You Tube & the Theatre

One can often feel ignorant when venturing into the theatre. Unless you've studied the play or you're a seasoned theatregoer who follows the advice of a trusty critic, it's not uncommon to feel a bit clueless as you enter the auditorium. You subsequently feel compelled to splash out a fiver on a programme in the vain hope that it will offer something beyond information on the cast and a brief summary of what's about to happen.
Well, that was the case before the National Theatre hit YouTube with a vengeance. In a blatant endeavor to break away from the stereotypical theatre crowd and capture an alternative audience, the National has created its very own YouTube channel to showcase trailers and vox pops. (Incidentally, I found out about this channel from a link on the National's Facebook page, which is worth checking out for deals.)