FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
On this page you will find answers to common questions regarding Sunset Boulevard – At Home.
What is a streamed performance?
From Monday 10 May you will be able to watch a recording of Sunset Boulevard from the comfort of your own home on a digital device. The streamed performance can be viewed on devices that allow you to access the Internet via a web browser, such as computers, tablets, mobile phones and some newer Smart TVs.
The production, which was unable to be performed in front of a live audience, was filmed on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December on stage at Curve.
To access the stream you will need to purchase a household ticket to watch the performance as though it is live, at the time selected when you make your booking. Please note you will not be able to pause or rewind the performance via your digital device, however a ten-minute interval will still take place during the show.
This streamed performance of Sunset Boulevard – at Home is not available to view in North America or associated territories.
How do I book?
To book your tickets for Sunset Boulevard – at Home, please click here. As you would for a live performance at Curve, you will need to choose a specific performance date and time to enjoy the show.
Please note that tickets for each scheduled performance of Sunset Boulevard – at Home will be taken off sale two hours in advance of the viewing time.
How much are tickets?
Tickets start from £20 per household.
Sunset Boulevard – at Home was the final show Curve’s Head of Production Andy Nairn worked on before he tragically passed away on 26 Nov 2020.
All money raised from ticket sales and donations for the upcoming week-long run of the musical will go towards The Andy Nairn Bursaries in Technical Theatre, which was created by Curve, Derby Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse in honour of Andy’s contribution to theatre in the region and passion for mentoring. The scheme will support aspiring theatre technicians from low socio-economic and diverse backgrounds in the East Midlands, removing barriers to access and providing opportunities to develop their skills.
How will I be able to access the streamed performance I have booked?
Once you have booked your ticket(s), you will be sent a confirmation email detailing your booking.
On the day of the performance, around one hour prior to your chosen performance time, we will send you an email with your StreamPass. This email will contain a link to a browser page from which you will be able to watch the show, and a unique code which will give you access to the stream.
We will open the virtual house/browser page approximately 30 minutes in advance of the performance. If you click on the link sent through to you at this time, you will then be prompted to insert your StreamPass into the box in the middle of your screen.
A step-by-step guide on how to access the stream and troubleshooting tips is available by clicking the link below.
Download streaming & troubleshooting tips here
A pre-show video will play in advance of the performance, and this is the best time to test your technology to view the stream or connect to a different device, should you wish to watch the show on your television for example. Further guidance is below for accessing the stream on different devices. Please provide a valid email address at the time of booking to ensure you receive all correspondence in relation to the show.
Whilst this is a pre-recorded performance, you will only be able to access the video up to 30 minutes before the performance time using your unique, one-time viewing link. We ask all audience members to ensure they can definitely make their chosen performance time before booking a ticket, and that viewing links are not shared with others once received as this will prevent you from accessing the stream.
If you have not received your StreamPass link one hour before the start of the stream, please email sunset@curvetheatre.co.uk.
Do I have to watch the stream on a specific type of device?
The stream can be viewed on devices that connect to the Internet via a web browser, such as computers, tablets, mobile phones and some newer Smart TVs.
How do I watch the show on a Smart TV or television connected to the internet through another device?
The platform we are using to stream Sunset Boulevard is called BookTix, and is browser-based. This means you need to access the platform through an up-to-date browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari on your Smart TV, or using Airplay or Chromecast to send the stream to your TV.
There are three possible methods to accessing the show on your television:
- Through connecting your laptop via and HDMI to your TV:
This is where you connect your HDMI port in your laptop to and HDMI port on your television and navigate to the correct output source on your TV remote. This will mirror your laptop screen on your TV. - Through an Integrated Browser:
This is when you download or enable a browser on the Smart TV or other media device itself and navigate to the link sent to you via email. You will need to manually enter in your 16 digit StreamPass code. - Through Casting to your TV:
This is when you open the stream in a browser on your mobile/tablet/computer and send the feed over your internet to your TV using Airplay or Chromecast.
Customers are advised that the streams are encrypted for copyright purposes and some Smart TVs are not equipped to read the encryption. We recommend using a device such as Apple TV or Chromecast, or via a browser on Amazon Fire Stick.
With AirPlay or Chromecast, please ensure you use the share/cast icon on the player.
Chromecast does not support the casting of browser pages from an iDevice to a television. As the stream is delivered via a browser page, this means you will not be able to cast the stream from your iDevice (iPhone, iPad) to your TV.
If you are using Amazon Fire Stick or Android TV, casting is not supported on these devices. You will need to download or enable the Amazon Silk Browser or Firefox on the device itself and navigate to the link provided in your email, before manually entering in your 16-digit StreamPass code.
Whichever method you choose, we suggest opening the stream on your primary device (mobile, tablet or computer) before you start casting or air-playing it to your TV. Not all TVs support modern full digital encryption, and the stream might work perfectly on your primary device and not work when it reaches your TV. There are different combinations of actions which might prove successful if this happens, and setting these up will take a little time, so we suggest joining the stream as early as possible – up to 30 minutes before the start of the show – to test your technology or find a different device to watch on.
If you have any questions regarding viewing the production, please email sunset@curvetheatre.co.uk.
Will there be accessible versions of the stream?
Captioning will be available on all performances of Sunset Boulevard – at Home
If you require our Captioned performances, please select these options when booking online. Alternatively, please get in touch by email at sunset@curvetheatre.co.uk.
Will you send me a reminder before the event?
We will send you a reminder on the day of your performance time with a refresher on how to access the stream and any other relevant information. Please check your junk or spam folders on the day of the performance for the reminder just in case it has been filtered there.
How can an online performance be sold out?
Unlike videos on-demand which are click and play services, started, paused and stopped at any time, a streamed production is much like a live performance. Tickets are issued individually an hour in advance of the performance, and all enquiries or technical issues are answered in real time by a team of people. To ensure that all customers have adequate time to receive their StreamPass, log into the stream, and get in touch with us if they require any assistance, a streamed performances can have a capacity limit to ensure the best customer experience.
Performances can also have a fixed number of tickets that can be sold as part of the agreement with the license holders regarding digital productions in a similar way to a venues seating capacity, or restrictions as to where the stream can be viewed from.
Is the streamed version available worldwide?
This production is available to stream for all audience members in the UK and all territories across the world, with the exception of North America and Canada. Please note that performance times are listed as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), so if you would like to enjoy the performance from another country please bear in mind the local time zone when selecting your performance.
Will a programme be available for the show?
A digital freesheet for Sunset Boulevard – at Home, detailing the company, production team and more about the performance will be made available online soon.
I have a question that isn’t answered here.
Please get in touch via email at sunset@curvetheatre.co.uk, where a member of our team will be happy to help you.