National Theatre Collection 2 

CONTENT

Part of Bloomsbury’s Drama Online (an award-winning library of quality research resources for drama and literature students and scholars), this new offering builds on the now-complete National Theatre Collection, with 20 new high-quality streaming videos of a variety of theatrical productions. Users will find plays from the turn of the 20th century, (Hedda Gabler; Julie; The Seagull; Three Sisters), mid-20th-century classics (A View from the Bridge; All My Sons), contemporary works (Barber Shop Chronicles; This House), Shakespeare stagings (Macbeth), and musical theater (I Want My Hat Back).

USABILITY

Users can access titles in National Theatre Collection 2 by searching for a production in Drama Online or by selecting the collection via the Collections menu. The title records provide insight on the productions and give details like length, suggested audience age, names of cast members and musicians, and details on the creative team. An image gallery highlights clips from the productions, and users can find links to related content in the sidebar (for instance, other productions of Macbeth available in the Drama Online library). A DOI number is assigned to each production, and transcripts make it easy to cite specific lines. Videos are also closed captioned for accessibility. With a personal account, users can clip segments for later access. Users can also save, print, share, and cite (in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles) a title or export it as an RIS file. Additional features include the ability to search monologues by keyword, gender, and word count; character grids; word and speech graphs; and a “seamless eReader” that allows users to read annotated scripts. In addition to production details, for each title there are also links to related subjects including playwright(s), plays, genres and forms, content type, themes, settings, and the time period in which a play was first performed, as well as links to other content sets that feature the production. Contact in formation for individual performance rights is listed for each play.

PRICING

Drama Online is a multi-collection digital research hub available via subscription or perpetual access. National Theatre Collection 1 is available via subscription ($1,726 to $5,738) or perpetual access ($10,353 to $34,425). National Theatre Collection 2 is similarly available via subscription ($1,024 to $3,413) or perpetual access ($6,144 to $20,481). Hosting fees ($200 to $600) may accompany perpetual access purchases. Contact the publisher (OnlineSalesUS@ bloomsbury.com) for pricing information for other Drama Online collections. Pricing is based on institution size and type; consor tia discounts may apply.

VERDICT

Subscribers to Drama Online can add this unique collection of theatrical productions to their existing libraries; non subscribers can start with this selection of 20 titles. Individual Drama Online collections are available for subscription or purchase, making these small collections an attractive option. A solid choice for institutions that support research and teaching in literature, theater, and the humanities.