Butterfly Online

Online shows that are not only a joy to watch, but you also get to be a part of it!

At Butterfly, we pride ourselves on being totally adaptable and responsive to whatever we have at our disposal. So, in response to the constraints of the pandemic, we made a shift into the world of online theatre.

We wanted to give our audiences the same opportunities to get involved in our work and enjoy interesting and unique theatre experiences, despite the fact that we were unable to perform in our usual, wonderful, site specific locations. What sets us apart however, is that we wanted to maintain the truly immersive and interactive nature of our shows.

We wanted our audiences to join us on our journey of discovery through the world of online theatre, and so decided to give them the unique opportunity to help create a show with us, live, as it happens.

We had become so used to being distanced from each other and not being able to enjoy true engagement and connection. We wanted to bring the joy and thrill of connection back, through our online performances.

How does it work?

We came up with a unique model whereby the audience has the opportunity to take on small roles within the show, interact with our Butterfly actors and join in with activities and game as part of the whole experience. They help create the show along with their friends, family and colleagues.

With an Audience Participant ticket they receive a Participation Pack which contains some script, a character breakdown and other fun things like costume ideas, props to bring or make, fun ways to set the scene in your own home and instructions for activities and games to be enjoyed throughout the show.

But do not fear, if playing such an active role is not for you, we also offer an Observer ticket, so you can sit back, relax and watch the story unfold live on YouTube.

  • “On Sunday I became aware of the changeability and resilience of art once more. Even though theatres have been closed for months, there are actors at home, experimenting and trying to come up with something new to preserve theatre. I felt hungry for culture and noticed how happy I was to see the Butterfly show coming! After preparing for my role and parts, I felt like a child in front of a wrapped present right before the show started, curious and excited. Butterfly guided us very well so that it felt easy to just join in, enjoy the moment and totally focus on the play. Even though we could only see each other as little rectangles on Zoom, I had a feeling of collective suspense, excitement and real connectedness. You haven't only found a way to involve the audience in the play, but also to do so across borders, and to affect people right where they are, that is fantastic! I think you really figured out a nice concept of bringing theatre to the people!”

    — Johanna, Audience Member, Germany

  • “I already knew the storyline of ‘A Christmas Carol’ but I still didn't know what to expect. Therefore, I had my eyes glued to the screen the entire time to make sure not to miss a single instruction. I believe that on zoom it is very easy to get distracted by things around you and not to immerse yourself into the play as much as you would while watching a live theater performance. Therefore, this type of anticipation was a perfect solution for using the tool zoom. The amount of participation that was expected for us was also perfect. We all had one scene where we had a few lines, that was enough to feel as though you are a part of the production, yet not too much so that you feel overwhelmed. It was incredible to be able to not only see theatre, but to also be a part of it all while staying in the safety of our own home. Thank you very much Butterfly Theatre.”

    — Kaja, Audience Member

 We also offer our online interactive shows for schools - see our Butterfly Education programme for detailed information.