What’s On At The UK’s Open Air Theatres This Summer?

2 weeks ago

Pack a blanket: Olivia Emily finds the al fresco venues well worth booking a ticket for

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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, plus what’s on in summer 2025.

Best Outdoor Theatres In The UK 2025

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, and in 2025, shows include:

Shucked (10 May–14 June): The UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning comedy musical about a small town centred around corn.
Noughts & Crosses (28 June–26 July): A much-awaited revival of Malorie Blackman’s seminal forbidden-love story.
Brigadoon (2 August–20 September): A brand new production of Lerner & Loewe’s beloved Highlands classic, not seen in London for over 35 years.
The Enormous Crocodile (15 August– 7 September): The return of the beloved family production created in collaboration with Roald Dahl Story Company and Leeds Playhouse.

Find It: The Regent’s Park, Inner Cir, London NW1 4NU

BOOK IT: openairtheatre.com

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. Shows tend to be one-offs or have a limited run. In 2025, this includes:

Impromptu Shakespeare (25 May): With story and verse improvised in the moment and inspired by audience suggestions, Impromptu Shakespeare is always different and always riotous.
Winnie the Pooh (28–31 May): A special family production for half term featuring Winnie, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Tigger and Christopher Robin.
I, Joan (4–7 June): A powerful and joyous play telling Joan of Arc’s story anew.
The 39 Steps (9–12 July): Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller gets the BOAT treatment this summer, featuring the plucky spirit of handsome hero Richard Hannay.

Find It: Dyke Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 6EH

BOOK IT: brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk

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. The 2025 line-up includes:

Pride & Prejudice (4 July– 31 August): A reprise of 2021’s beloved production in celebration of 250 years of Jane Austen.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (18 July–31 August): A brand new adaptation created for the theatre and set in modern day Chester.
Alice in Wonderland (25 July–30 August): A special walkabout production for children under 10 winding through the theatre site and culminating in a joyful finale.

Find It: Grosvenor Park, Chester CH1 1QX

BOOK IT: storyhouse.com

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). In 2025, this includes:

Treasure Island (2–5 June): Le Navet Bete’s swashbuckling, smash-hit comedy for the whole family, featuring dastardly pirates, tropical islands and an unforgettable mermaid.
The Tempest in a Teacup (30 May–29 August): A family-friendly production of Shakespeare’s final masterpiece, featuring fairies, monsters, shipwrecks and romance beside the sea.
The Wind in the Willows (24–27 June): Timid Mole, gruff old Badger and playful Rat’s lives are turned upside down when Toad gets obsessed with a caravan.

Find It: Porthcurno, Penzance TR19 6JU

BOOK IT: minack.com

The Globe, London

Shining bright on London’s Bankside, this celebrated amphitheatre is a vibrant reincarnation of Shakespeare’s original playhouse; it’s hard to believe it’s only been there since 1997 (though the original, of course, dates back to 1599). Welcoming audiences to enjoy theatre under the open summer sky season after season, the theatre stands as a testament to the ever-enduring appeal of Elizabethan theatre. Summer 2025’s productions include:

Romeo & Juliet (25 April–2 August): A classic reset in the Wild West; think saloon brawls and brutal gun fights.
The Crucible (16 May–12 July): The Globe’s very first Arthur Miller production, exploring paranoia, superstition, ruthless justice and mass hysteria.
The Merry Wives of Windsor (4 July–20 September): Elizabethan propriety dissolves into bacchanalian chaos in this story of mischief, madness, and metamorphoses.
Rough Magic (19 July–23 August): A special family production taking the Weird Sisters out of Macbeth and taking them on a supernaturally silly adventure.