An outdoor show has an added excitement. The feeling that theater should always be this way; friendly, less formal, social; audience and artists together. And it’s all completely at the mercy of the weather.
Nature plays an important role in this industry and will often determine programming and whether a show will go on. The National Trust recently shared that they will be pausing production on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest, after 60 years due to the impact of the events on the landscape. Managing this impact positively is an ongoing debate.
Britain has a long history of putting on shows under starlit skies; the earliest documented in Roman times. Medieval mystery plays and the rise of Shakespeare in the Elizabethan era saw more open-air theaters opening, and many are still open today, where outdoor performances can be enjoyed, especially in the summer, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Here are some of the best.
St Albans Roman Theater
Built in AD 140 as part of the historic Roman city of Verulamium, St Albans Roman Theater was excavated most extensively in the 1930s by a team that included pioneering archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon. This atmospheric venue in the English countryside now hosts an annual summer festival of theater and music, seating 300 people in its semicircular auditorium. To accompany a live performance, history buffs can visit the excellent Roman Verulamium Museum.
Roman Theater Open Air Festival, run by theater production company OVO Performances from May to SeptemberTickets start from £12.50 per person.
Where to stay: With double rooms from £249 per night, Sopwell House is less than 10 minutes’ drive away.
Minack Theatre, Cornwall
Built into the granite cliffs on the south coast of Cornwall in the 1930s, this 550-seat open-air theater hosts over 200 live performances a year, a wide range of plays, musicals, operas and children’s events. The story of Rowena Cade, who largely built the theater with her own two hands, is a fascinating one, and visitors to the theater also have access to an exhibition detailing her life’s work. The view over Porthcurno Bay from the theater is spectacular. With its clear waters, Porthcurno Beach is often referred to as Cornwall’s best beach.
Minack Theater (01736 810181; minack.com) performs from March to October, with tickets starting from £10 per person.
Where to stay: Chapel House Penzance has double rooms from £150 per night. The popular restaurant Cornish Barn is a two-minute walk away.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London
Also built in the 1930s in one of London’s iconic parks, this impressive open-air theater has a capacity of 1,304 people. The summer season is a mix of Shakespeare plays, musicals, contemporary drama and family-friendly shows. Many famous actors have graced the stage, including Dame Judi Dench, who is now the patron of the theatre.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theater (0333 400 3562; openairtheatre.com) performs from May to September, with tickets starting from £15 per person.
Where to stay: Double rooms at the Dorset Square Hotel in nearby Marylebone start from £316 per night.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London
A reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre, built in 1599, the Globe Theatre’s summer program blends classic productions and contemporary adaptations of Shakespeare’s works. If you buy a standing ticket in the courtyard, you are considered a “local”; Here, the actors move through the crowd and interact with the audience as they did in Shakespeare’s time. Borough Market, Tate Modern and the National Theater are nearby.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (020 7401 9919; shakespearesglobe.com) has performances from March to October, followed by a Christmas production from December to January, with tickets starting from £5 per person.
Where to stay: There are rooms available in Hoxton, Southwark from £195 per night.
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester
Chester was once a Roman fort and red sandstone Roman walls still surround it. The 500-seat open-air theater in the park is a newer development, established in 2010 and currently running a summer program of classics with diverse and family-friendly shows. Storyhouse, Chester’s excellent cultural centre, run by the theatre’s founders, is a 10-minute walk away.
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theater (01244 409113; storyhouse.com) performs from July to September, with tickets starting from £22.50 per person.
Where to stay: Centrally located five-star hotel Chester Grosvenor has double rooms from £162 per night.
Thorington Theatre, Suffolk
This wooden amphitheater was built inside a crater believed to be the result of bombings during World War II. Located on a Suffolk farm growing organic chestnuts and walnuts, the rural venue hosts an eclectic mix of theatre, music, comedy and children’s entertainment. If you have time to explore, the Suffolk Heritage Coast is nearby and home to a number of beautiful beaches.
Thorington Theater (thoringtontheatre.co.uk) performs from May to August and tickets start from £18 per person.
Where to stay: A five-minute drive from the theatre, Husk is a supper club with accommodation in a converted barn, with rooms from £260 a night (07733 262797; huskthorington.co.uk).
John Andrews Theatre, Pwllheli
This 250-seat open-air theater is located at the woodland entrance to Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Wales’ oldest art gallery. Classic plays, adaptations and concerts are all set against the beautiful backdrop of Cardigan Bay and the Eryri (Snowdonia) mountains. The gallery is worth a visit, and the popular on-site cafe is an extraterrestrial dome-shaped structure created by sculptor Matt Sanderson. A variety of circular walks can be accessed through the woodland, including part of the Wales Coast Path.
John Andrews Theater (01758 740763; oriel.org.uk) performs from May to August and tickets start from £15 per person.
Where to stay: Rooms at the Portofino-inspired Hotel Portmeirion start from £214 per night.
Pitlochry Festival Theater
Nestled in the hills of the Scottish Highlands, this open-air venue is located in the Explorers Gardens at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. The compact 120-seat amphitheater hosts a mix of opera, musicals and drama, surrounded by views of Ben-Y-Vrackie Mountain. Walkers looking to experience more nature can visit Loch Faskally, where you can hire canoes and boats to admire the panoramic Highlands views from the water.
Pitlochry Festival Theater Amphitheatre (01796 484626; pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com) performs from July to September with tickets starting from £25 per person.
Where to stay: Fonab Castle Hotel has rooms from £238 per night. Try the restaurant at nearby Saorsa 1875, known for its plant-based menu.
Willow Globe, Powys
The Willow Globe, or Glôb Byw in Welsh, is a scaled-down version of Shakespeare’s 16th-century Globe and is erected entirely from willow. This creative and intimate outdoor stage hosts Shakespeare plays and events throughout the summer season and seats approximately 100 people. Gilfach Nature Reserve is just a few miles away and Bradleys in Llandrindod Wells is a great place to grab tapas.
Willow Globe (01597 811487; shakespearelink.org.uk) performs from April to September, with tickets starting from £12 per person.
Where to stay: Lake Country House Hotel & Spa in Llangammarch has rooms from £211 per night.