Your guide to Zoom

Here are some tips on how to watch our live or recorded streamed performances with Zoom. We’d recommend testing out these options in advance of the performance.

1. Download the Zoom app

This is the most important step in our Zoom guide – download the free Zoom app to your laptop, tablet or phone in advance of the performance. We’ll send you your link and login details at least 24 hours before the show. You can test your audio in advance of the performance at any time to check that everything is working correctly. You can then view the performance on your device once the show starts (don’t worry about muting yourself or turning off your camera – these will be automatically turned off).

Take a look at the steps below if you’d like to try connecting to your TV*. 

2. Connect to your TV using an HDMI cable

If your TV has an HDMI cable port, you should be able to connect you laptop, phone or tablet. One end of the HDMI cable will connect to your TV and the other will connect to your device – you’ll need to make sure you have the correct HDMI cable compatible with the device you’re using.

If you’re using a phone or tablet it’s likely that this will connect to the same socket you use to charge your phone. If you’re using a laptop you’ll see that it will have slots along the side of the keyboard and if you’re using a computer, you’ll either connect to a slot along the side of your monitor (screen) or in the computer itself. 

Once you have the right cable and your device is connected to your TV, it will either automatically begin sharing your screen or you will need to access your TV’s menu using your remote control to change the source or input to HDMI – this will correspond to the HDMI slot you’ve connected to on your TV and there may be more than one to choose from. 

Once you’re connected the sound should be coming out of your TV rather than your device. If not, check your audio settings by selecting the arrow next to ‘Mute’ in the bottom right of the screen and either choose ‘Same as system’ or your TV speakers if that appears as an option under ‘Select a speaker’.

3. Connect to your TV using Chromecast

If you have a windows computer or an android phone and you have access to Chromecast, you can wirelessly stream from your phone, tablet or laptop to your TV.

We recommend following the instructions below to cast from the Zoom app, but it’s also possible to cast from your computer screen if you’re using the chrome browser (not recommended).

To do this, make sure your Chromecast device is plugged into your TV and connected to a plug socket. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to set up Chromecast. You’ll need to do the setup on a mobile device but once this is complete, you can use Chromecast for your phone, tablet and laptop.

To set up, check that both your Chromecast device and your mobile device are both connected to your WiFi. Once they’re connected you can download the free Google Home app on your phone and follow the steps to complete the setup.

You can then ‘cast’ from the Zoom app on your phone, laptop or tablet to your TV, provided they’re all connected to your WiFi, following these instructions.

Double check that the audio is coming from your TV and not the device you’re casting from.

*We cannot guarantee that you will be able to connect your device to your TV. The Old Vic takes no responsibility if you are unable to connect your device to your TV and will not issue ticket refunds on this basis. Our recommendation for these performances is to use your laptop for watching using the free Zoom app. We strongly recommend testing your desired method for viewing out in advance.