Since Shakespeare’s age, the UK has nurtured a lively culture of open-air theatre. The damp climate doesn’t stop audiences from turning out in droves, particularly during the summer months.
Here’s a roundup of ten of the best outdoor theatre spaces across the UK – picnic baskets not included. The featured image of the Minack Theatre is courtesy of Minack Theatre.
1) The Globe
Though this is a modern reconstruction of the original 17th Century theatre, The Globe is carefully reconstructed to look as it did in the Bard’s day, complete with an area for groundlings.
2) The Scoop
This sunken amphitheatre on London’s South Bank seats 800 and hosts events ranging from plays and concerts to film screenings and community events throughout the summer months.
3) Chatsworth House
This Derbyshire manor was one of the sets used for the 2005 Pride and Prejudice adaptation. During the summer, visitors can catch a live adaptation of the novel on its grounds as well as other outdoor performances.
4) Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Set in Queen Mary’s Gardens, the Regent’s Park theatre, which dates to 1932, offers performances, lawn dining, and a lengthy bar to keep attendees well-watered.
5) Warwick Castle
This medieval castle, built in 1068, hosts family-friendly events, Battle Proms concerts, and Shakespearean performances on its scenic grounds during the summer months.
6) Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
Set in Chester, Grosvenor Park Theatre offers visitors both open-air and covered seating in case the weather turns foul. Guests can picnic while taking in the drama.
7) Minack Theatre Cornwall
This gorgeous theatre is as much a destination for its setting as it is for its performances. Located on a rocky outcrop on the Cornish Coast, this Grecian-style amphitheatre offers stunning seaside views.
8) Woburn Abbey
Located in bucolic Bedfordshire, Woburn Abbey hosts outdoor performances in its stunning gardens. As a bonus, young’uns can also visit its Safari Park for up-close-and-personal experiences with wild animals.
9) Castle Howard, North Yorkshire
Famous for being the setting of Brideshead Revisited, Castle Howard is a stunning 18th Century manor with more than 1,000 acres of grounds. During the summer, it hosts performances under the stars.
10) National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire
Educational events, orchestral performances, and family-friendly plays are staged annually in the verdant National Botanic Garden of Wales. Set in historic parkland, the Garden is frequently voted one of Wales’ best.
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