Five Outdoor Theatres Worth The Ticket This Summer

How does comedy on a Cornish cliff sound? Or Shakespeare on a Dorset island, accessible only by boat? The UK is blessed with some beautiful outdoor theatres – read on for our favourites.

Best Outdoor Theatres In The UK

© David Jensen & Feast Creative.

1. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London

Dating back to 1932, this is one of the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor theatres, hidden in the middle of one of the capital’s most beautiful parks. Its season runs from March to September each year. The Regent’s Park, Inner Cir, London NW1 4NU; openairtheatre.com

© Lucy MacDonald

2. Brighton Open Air Theatre, Brighton

This 400-seat amphitheatre was founded by the late Adrian Bunting, a local playwright and performer who set his mind and heart to opening Brighton’s first outdoor venue when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It finally opened in 2015, and has been part of the city’s cultural fabric ever since. Dyke Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 6EH; brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk

3. Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

An intimate outdoor auditorium with a summer-only season. Alongside captivating theatre, visitors can enjoy outdoor cinema screenings, comedy gigs and live music, with refreshments in the form of crisp beers, frozen cocktails, and wood-fired pizzas. Grosvenor Park, Chester CH1 1QX; storyhouse.com

© Mike Newman

4. The Minack, Cornwall

Top-class theatre with world-class views… Don’t mind if we do. Perched on a rocky granite outcrop into Porthcurno Bay, this is a must-visit for theatre enthusiasts, hosting over 200 live performances every year (from Easter to October). Porthcurno, Penzance TR19 6JU; minack.com

5. Brownsea Open Air Theatre, Dorset

Hop on a boat from Poole Quay to Brownsea Island to see Shakespeare performed amid magical surroundings. The magic doesn’t end when the curtain falls: you get to sail back to Poole under the stars. Poole BH13 7EE; brownsea-theatre.co.uk