Entertainment during lockdown

Ashley Mayer reflects on how her hobby of seeing theatre shows had gone online during Covid-19

I used to go out and see a lot of theatre and live shows and events, but all that stopped when Covid-19 came along. I love sitting in an audience, you and the stranger next to you trying to decide who gets the armrest. I love experiencing the atmosphere and being kept on the edge of my seat when I'm totally engrossed in the show.

But then came the coronavirus, which stopped everything in its tracks. So many people, including myself, had tickets to events and shows which all got cancelled. It was devastating. There was so much uncertainty about when the shows would start up again.

It's not all doom and gloom. I was still able to watch theatre shows and drag shows, not in person but from the comfort of my own home. It's not the same as a live show, but it was a new experience for me.

National Theatre are streaming live theatre shows every week on their YouTube channel. During lockdown it was something I looked forward to, and I also ended up watching some shows that I don't think I would have seen otherwise.

One of the first shows I streamed was Jane Eyre. I had heard of it before but had never seen it, and I really enjoyed the show. I somewhat felt like I was at a theatre but in reality I was in my living room. I even waited until the half-time break to get my snacks and ice-cream, just like I would have at a real show. National Theatre didn't charge at all for their online shows, they just asked for donations.

WhatsOnStage were also steaming shows and musicals during lockdown. I found myself getting ready to watch a show in front of my TV, which was strange but I loved it. Lockdown has been such a challenging time for everyone, but watching shows online – even Netflix – distracts you for however long, which is a great thing.

I also really enjoy drag shows, and soon I found out that Klub Kids were streaming shows via Zoom. I didn't know what Zoom was up until lockdown, but now I feel like I use it all the time. The shows via Zoom were great – I really enjoyed them. Some of the events were Zoom webinars where you could only see the performers. One drag queen I really like did a bingo event over Zoom, which was really fun. She also did a musical night where she could see us, the audience, too. It was so interactive.

It has been amazing to see how many people and organisations have adapted during lockdown and how quickly it's all been moved online.

There have been so many perks to lockdown, I think: it's made me stop and appreciate things more. Online shows and events, and even things like Netflix have made lockdown that wee bit easier.

What has kept you entertained during this strange time?