Summer in Cornwall is all about making the most of our wonderful outdoor spaces! And luckily we have been blessed with a tradition of wonderfully creative theatre groups just waiting to take advantage of our many open-air theatres, or creating pop-up performances in surprising places that make the most of the beautiful landscape.
There is something really special about watching a show outdoors, surrounded by the elements, often the locations become an essential part of the performance, another character adding to the excitement! Cornish theatre companies such as Wild Works, Miracle Theatre and Rogue Theatre are hugely popular and have achieved national acclaim for their exciting and innovative work which has been delighting crowds for years.
Some highlights this summer included Miracle Theatre’s Starcrazy, a cosmic comedy coming to venues all over Cornwall until the end of August and Rogue Theatre’s Otherworld and Wild moon Nights performances in the atmospheric Tehidy Woods.
Venues such as the famous Minack Theatre on the Penwith always draw the crowds but there are many other smaller venues to discover.
Penlee Park theatre in Penzance has been welcoming actors to its grass-covered stage since 1948, the Carn Marth Theatre can be found in an old quarry while you can discover Sterts Theatre up on the wilds of Bodmin Moor where shows range from musicals to stand-up comedy. The Trebah Amphitheatre, on the Helford, nestles in the heart of the tropical Trebah Gardens and Bedruthen Outdoor Theatre is a stunning clifftop venue on the north coast where you can sip cocktails while the sun sets and the story unfolds. All will be welcoming a wide range of local and national companies in the coming weeks, bringing all kinds of wonderful performances to Cornwall from plays to music and dance.
How about a drive-in movie?
Excitingly this summer a number of venues are bringing drive-in movies to Cornwall. Blockbusters such as Jaws, Dirty Dancing, Jurassic Park, The Goonies and Grease can all be enjoyed at a number of pop-up outdoor screens or drive-ins around Cornwall including Watergate Bay, Caerhays Beach, Scorrier House, Jubilee Pool in Penzance, the Sunset drive-in near St Austell and Great Western Beach in Newquay.
Find out more HERE.
Making the most of Outdoor Performances
- Take a blanket for when the sun goes down
- Remember sunscreen and a hat (or waterproofs and an umbrella) just in case!
- Be prepared to follow the action, outdoor performances can involve some walking
- Don’t forget your folding chair or cushion
- Enjoy the outdoor theatre experience!