Rounding up the best theatre videos from a month isn’t always easy. Trailers are top of the marketing departments must have for productions and their venues which means there are a lot to choose from. In this collection of videos for April the selection is more diverse and shows how some companies are keeping it simple for maximum impact. As always see the full list on A Younger Theatre’s YouTube Channel or see the February and March Top Theatre Videos post.

1. The Arches: Behaviour Festival 2013

Kicking off the April list comes this pulsating video from Glasgow venue The Arches for their Behaviour Festival. It’s not easy to compile all the shows into a video but they’ve achieved this with a bit of guts. The music, montage of videos and text make for a electric trailer that gives the quality of the Behaviour Festival a visual identity  It’s not often a video makes you want to jump on a train to experience a festival, The Arches have done well.

2. Theatre of the Damned: The Ghost Hunter

If The Arches showed that a video could be pulsing, Theatre of the Damned show that sometimes a video needs a good piece of music and some trippy visuals to get the creative juices pumping. In this 1 minute video we learn very little about the production of The Ghost Hunter, but boy does it make us want to dance. Retro meeting old school.

3. Sadler’s Wells: Some Like It Hip Hop

You’d expect that an organisation like Sadler’s Wells would produce some slick dance videos, but as they prove in their Some Like It Hip Hop – It’s a Man’s World video a held hand camera and some filming across London can create an amusing video. What makes this video enjoyable is the sudden dancing that erupts from the two unlikely characters, with everyday people looking bemused on tubes and bridges across London. Amusing but effective.

4. Punchdrunk: The Drowned Man

This video for Punchdrunk’s newest production The Drowned Man should come with a warning: if you have epilepsy avoid, if you have a theatre obsession, equally avoid. So mysterious are Punchdrunk’s shows that you could spend hours attempting to look for clues in this trailer. Engrossing and mysterious in equal measures this trailer messes with your head a little.

5. Middle Child: Saturday Night & Sunday Morning

This video from theatre company Middle Child has been included because it shows how if you’re not careful a video can easily go from good to bad. Starting with good shots and interesting dynamics of a character living it large at the weekend in a run down pub, the video finishes with 38 seconds of text. 35 seconds? Dear oh dear, far too much for the 1 minute visuals beforehand. Middle Child got it very nearly right, but relied upon their text captions too much.

Here is double roundup of the top theatre videos from February and March. You can also see all the videos on our YouTube playlist on the A Younger Theatre Youtube Channel where you’ll also find some exclusive videos from The Book of Mormon creators.

1. The Royal Shakespeare Company: Hamlet Video Trailer

At just 36 seconds long this video for David Farr’s Hamlet by the Royal Shakespeare Company is intense. Directed by Farr himself and produced by Dust House (who are becoming a regular feature in these video round ups), the focus of the trailer is the setting of a fencing tournament. It’s simplistic in presentation, but very effective as a short trailer, including some slightly Star Wars inspired text for the show title (or is that just us?).

2. West Yorkshire Playhouse: Doctor Faustus

The West Yorkshire Playhouse and Citizen Theatre have created a creepy video trailer for their joint production of Doctor Faustus. With clown-like features you might mistake this video for The Joker in Batman. What menacing face paint. A recurring theme in this roundup of videos is slow motion which features in this trailer. Is it overused? Perhaps. But does it work? Oh yes.

3. The Unicorn Theatre: 1001 Nights

This trailer for the Unicorn Theatre’s production of 1001 Nights in association with Transport is full of mesmerising images and beauty, but it also has some faults. The voiceover and music is unquestionably good, taking you into the world of the play and when the footage shows more visual elements (the sheet blowing up for example) I tingle with joy. Some of the footage is weaker, scenes from the play playing against the narration don’t quite work, but otherwise what a wonderful video.

4. The Royal Court Theatre and Fuel: The Victorian in the Wall

How important is narrative in a video trailer for a show? In the case of The Royal Court and Fuel’s The Victorian in the Wall the narrative of the play, cleverly delivered by an actor in character, is central to the video. It’s funny and features three men singing with a piano (what’s not to love?) with some amusing lyrics about knocking down a wall. It also throws into question the purpose of video trailers and the limitations of theatre. Can you always show everything you want to in a video? One of the cast is missing so they pop a photo of her in the corner of the video, it’s cheap, but funny.

5. English National Ballet: Branding relaunching

The English National Ballet have a new artistic leader and a fresh and edgy new brand thanks to the folk at Brand New Meme. Launching the new brand came with a collaboration with fashion extraordinaire Vivienne Westwood. Talk about bringing ballet into the contemporary world. Despite being uploaded in January, we just can’t get enough of this behind the scenes look at the photo shoot with Westwood and some of ENB’s principle dancers. It’s gorgeous.

6. Bryony Kimmings: The Fanny Song

Warning: This video contains strong language and comedy related to the female genitalia and some readers may find it slightly offence and utterly hilarious. You have been suitably warned!

How many different words are there for the bits and pieces down below on our female readers? Quite a few according to Bryony Kimmings with her new song The Fanny Song. Featuring participants, vaginas and some brilliant descriptions, this video may not be for everyone, but it certainly shows that sometimes we don’t have to be serious. With 15,000 views in less than a month, I think it’s safe to say Kimmings has a hit!

7. National Theatre: NT Future – Transforming the National Theatre

When you watch this video from the National Theatre on how they’re shaping the future of the building, with new facilities and open access to audiences I challenge you not to feel a little bit excited or moved. Using footage from well known productions, with a brilliant voice over and artworks from the new developments; it feels inspiring. Which is almost what the National Theatre want you to feel, that and empowered to invest in their future which will surely be our future too.

8. Pants On Fire: Theatrical Advertising Space

From funding the National Theatre to getting a unique advertising slot in a theatre company’s production, this video from Pants On Fire is intriguing to say the least. We’re featuring this video, not for the content but rather the idea behind the video creation. Pants On Fire are offering a business the chance to have their own advert, devised by the company, inserted into their next show as an ad break. Using the companies talent of music, physical theatre, puppetry and fun they want businesses to invest in their show and receive a live advert mid-performance. It’s a neat idea, will it work? Who knows.

What are your highlights of videos the past few months? Leave a comment and make sure you look at the other videos featured in our round up of Best Theatre Videos from December.

Rehearsals have begun for the London production of The Book of Mormon, which previews at the Prince of Wales Theatre from 25 February 2013 – that’s next week!

From South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez, The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre album, follows a pair of Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s a long way from Salt Lake City…

AYT is delighted to be able to share some interviews with Matt Stone and Trey Parker  discussing how the musical came to be, as well as interviews with the original Broadway cast, designers, composer and choreographer.

The first video, featuring Matt Stone, Trey Parker and Robert Lopez talking about the genesis of the musical, is available below or A Younger Theatre’s YouTube. The second, continuing the discussion about the musical’s subject matter, is here.

21 February – Two more videos for you today! Videos available here and here. Enjoy!

22 February – Another two videos today, here and here. More tomorrow!

23 February – Two more Book of Mormon videos – on costume design and set design.

25 February – Two more videos for your viewing. See them here and here.

Check back every day this week for new content exploring the development of The Book of Mormon. You can also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo: Gavin Creel as Elder Price in The Book of Mormon. Photo (c) Joan Marcus. 

In November we introduced the Top 5 Theatre Trailers of the month, but for December we’re opening this out beyond trailers into the widespread area of general theatre related videos. So whether you’re interested in discussing why theatre still matters with Tony Kushner, seeing the trailer for the Royal Opera House’s Live Streaming Day or just want to sing along to Shrek The Musical’s video remake of Rockin’ Around The Tree, here is a taster of the best theatre videos of December. Enjoy!

Does Theatre Still Matter?
- Tony Kushner on the need for theatre by Thnkr

AYT Says: Pultizer Prize-winner Tony Kushner talks about the need for theatre, the illusions it creates and the connections between audience and actors. Filmed by Thnkr who specialise in thought-provoking videos to inspire the mind, Does Theatre Still Matter? comes as part of their Epiphany series. Kushner is a fantastic writer and it’s great to see him engaged so passionately about the power of theatre.

Shrek: The Musical
- Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

AYT Says: Now technically this video was uploaded in November, but given its Christmas nature, we can’t help but to include it in our roundup of December videos. Filmed with the cast of Shrek The Musical as they sing Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, this video is fun but it is also raising money for Centrepoint’s Christmas Appeal. It’s good to see the cast in their characters up close, some of the costumes and makeup are fantastic.

In The Republic of Happiness
- Theatre trailer by the Royal Court Theatre

AYT Says: We love a bit of Martin Crimp at AYT, which is why we’ve been looking forward to his newest play In The Republic of Happiness playing at the Royal Court Theatre. (We have a ticket offer here too, if you want to see it). What we like about this trailer is how unhinged it is, all that fake smiling and lip synching. “What a load of shit” as they say. It’s a good thing they’ve got video makers Dust House on the case for a good trailer.

Stunted Trees and Broken Bridges Trailer
- by Y Touring Theatre Company

AYT Says: Sometimes it’s the simple videos that make for the most compelling to watch. This video trailer for a new piece of writing has intrigued us at AYT, with its dystopian animation and whimsical voiceover. Y Touring Theatre Company are keen to engage their audiences in debates around scientific research. We particularly like the game-like nature of the animation with the voiceover – what an intriguing text. Watch out for the show on tour in 2013.

Royal Opera House Live
- by the Royal Opera House

AYT Says: We feel like we’re cheating a little by including this video, but we’re big fans of the Royal Opera House Live. Earlier in 2012 ROH threw open their doors to the public through a day of live streaming. It was fascinating, and whilst this video doesn’t quite relay how revealing live streaming from behind the scenes can be, it does show enthusiasm from Rolando Villazón. The day will be live streamed across The Space, the Guardian and on the Royal Opera House website. Don’t miss it. 7th January 2013, from 10.30am GMT.

So there you have it. December theatre videos wrapped up for you. Although here is a great article by Howard Sherman on theatre trailers which is worth a read.