Pour a Pimms, pack a picnic and prepare yourself for some perfect summer theatre beneath the sun, the moon and the stars. Whether it’s a sunny Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre, or a midnight matinee of As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe, no summer is complete without some outdoor magic and moonlight. We’ve rounded up the very best open air experiences in London and around the British Isles…
BIG LONDON EVENTS
Shakespeare’s Globe
Fans of the Bard are spoilt for choice in the faithfully and lovingly recreated Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Summer 2015 highlights include As You Like It, King John and Richard II.
For a truly unique experience, try one of the midnight matinees. Seating can be booked, but for the true “Shakesperience” (and the best views) grab one of 700 standing tickets per performance for just £5.
Box Office 020 7401 9919 (10am-6pm)
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/
Tickets from £5
You may be surprised to learn that there is also a full sized replica of Shakespeare’s Globe within the grounds of Rome’s Villa Borghese – worth a look on a Roman Holiday!
West End Live
Now in its 11th year, there’s no more star-studded way to fill a Summer weekend than to head to Trafalgar Square for West End Live on 20 & 21 June.
The brainchild of Westminster City Council and Society of London Theatre, West End Live sees every West End cast perform FOR FREE to the huge crowds… The West End Spiegeltent adds to the fun a few steps away in Leicester Square with costumes, talks and the chance to get up close and personal with Theatre Stars!
http://www.westendlive.co.uk
Admission: Free
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
The best thing about Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is its location deep inside the park – it’s a long but beautiful walk from the tube. They will happily let you bring and enjoy your own picnic and drinks but, you might regret that decision once the tantalising aroma of a barbecuing home-made burger wafts past you. Both the dining and the production values are top notch – this season’s highlights include Peter Pan, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Lord of the Flies.
The lovely people at Digital Theatre filmed Into The Woods in HD so you can get a taste of Open Air Theatre from the comfort of your sofa…although not the warmth of a summer evening breeze.
Box Office 0844 826 4242 (8am-10pm)
https://openairtheatre.com/
Tickets from £25
Holland Park Opera
If you fancy going high-brow without risking the rain, Opera Holland Park London is widely regarded as one of the most exciting, innovative and accomplished opera companies in the UK. It’s also partly under cover of a marquee which claims to be one of the most beautiful covered spaces in the capital. Leave your cucumber sandwiches at home and be sure to take your wallet – picnics range from £23 – £280 for four-six people.
This season’s Holland Park highlights include Aida, Lakmé and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Box Office 0300 999 1000
http://www.operahollandpark.com/
Ticket prices vary by production
For sold out performances, a Ticket Exchange operates
The Scoop More London Free festival
Including Sport and Film, the More London Free Festival is a great way to enjoy some summer evenings for free in a stunning location beside City Hall. Perfectly positioned opposite the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, this year you’ll find a bumper set of FREE events including Captain Show-Off! and Women of Troy. Seating is firm to say the least, but you can hire a cushion for £2. You’re welcome to bring your own picnic and drinks (no glass though). Events are not ticketed so availability will be on a first come first served basis on the day.
Enquiries 020 7403 4866
http://www.morelondon.com
Admission: Free
Greenwich & Docklands
The Greenwich & Docklands international festival welcomes The Four Fridas – a spectacular, outdoor theatre production celebrating the life and work of the legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1-4 July). Audiences will be immersed in a visually thrilling experience, integrating elements of ritual, music, narration, contemporary dance and aerial choreography, played out against stunning video projections in the sky.
If last year’s experience was any indication of what to expect, it’s well worth a trip down the river to gorgeous Greenwich.
Enquiries 020 8305 5023
http://www.festival.org
Free Promenade Access
LITTLE LONDON EVENTS
Lyric Hammersmith
Enjoy a free, fun and quirky lunch-break on 9 & 10 June by grabbing a pair of headphones at the Lyric Hammersmith and heading outside to Lyric Square. Follow the Boy & Girl who journey into the unknown in an interactive love story set right there in Hammersmith. If you can’t make it to Hammersmith then Zest Theatre will be taking the show on the road to various UK locations.
Enquiries 020 8741 6850
http://www.lyric.co.uk
Admission: Free
St Paul’s Church Covent Garden
The Actors Church, St Paul’s Covent Garden is a veritable oasis of tranquillity yards from the heaving crowds of shoppers in Covent Garden piazza. After the success of 2014, Iris Theatre returns for a 7th year of its celebrated summer season (23 June – 24 July) in the gardens of St Paul’s Church, with William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Enquiries 020 7240 0344
http://www.iristheatre.com
Tickets from £12
BEST REGIONAL EVENTS
Cheshire
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is one of the UK’s pre-eminent open air theatre companies and the only one of its kind outside London.
The 2015 season runs from 3 July – 23 August with productions of Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Wives of Windsor and a new adaptation of family classic The Wind in the Willows.
Box Office 0845 241 7868
http://www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk/
Prices from £18.50
Cornwall
All summer long, visit the Cornwall, the UK’s and possibly the world’s most spectacularly situated amphitheatre.
The Minack Theatre has a season running from May – September and features professional and amateur performances including Carmen, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and A Chorus of Disapproval.
Box Office 01736 810181*
*Access line only eg wheelchair users
http://www.minack.com/
Ticket prices vary by production
Derbyshire
This being eccentric England, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is, of course, Chatsworth – in Derbyshire. On 12 August pop along to enjoy an all male performance of Twelfth Night. by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men – while you’re there, perhaps can you ask them why the Duke of Devonshire lives so far up North…
General enquiries 01246 565300
http://www.chatsworth.org/attractions-and-events/events/event/twelfth-night
Tickets £15
Suffolk
From 16-19 July, the beautiful Suffolk town of Southwold plays host to The Latitude Festival. Although primarily a music festival, Latitude includes elements of theatre, art, comedy, cabaret, poetry, politics, dance and literature.
This year the wonderful Kneehigh Theatre Company present their brand new theatre show, 946. Adapted by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and Kneehigh co Artistic Director Emma Rice from Morpurgo’s book The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, 946 uses music, puppetry and foolishness to tell this tale of war, prejudice and love. The show is part of a huge outdoor festival, so it’s a big investment in both time and money…
www.facebook.com/latitudefestival
www.latitudefestival.com
Single day tickets from £84.50*
*That’s for the whole Festival. Weekend tickets cost more but include camping if you want the complete outdoor experience!
Touring Productions (UK & Ireland)
If we’ve yet to mention where you live, fear not! The Chapterhouse Theatre Company is presenting events the length and bredth of the British Isles in magical settings. Choose from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.
Chapterhouse is performing in over 150 of Britain and Ireland’s most beautiful and idyllic garden settings so they are sure to be somewhere near you!
Enquiries 01522 569 222
http://www.chapterhouse.org/
Tickets from £14
OUR TIPS FOR OUTDOOR THEATREGOING
- The British summer can also conjure up the odd Tempest so pack a mac with the Scotch eggs and you’ll be covered whatever the weather.
- Some performances will go ahead rain or shine, while others may pause, postpone or in exceptional circumstances, cancel. For refund and exchange policies, please refer to individual websites.
- Policies on picnics, whether you can use umbrellas (think of the poor people behind you), etc also vary so check what’s allowed.
- Wear sunscreen but remember that the temperature drops when the sun goes down.
- We swear by the motto “Keep snug with a hug and a rug”.
- Most important of all, have fun… If you’ve never seen a show outdoors, you don’t know what you’ve been missing!
Think we left something off the list? Let us know about your own open air theatre experiences and share your favourite venues with others in the comments box below.
Make sure you get there early so you can have a good seat If seating is unresvered
Good point – especially if you’re going along in a group.