Open-Air Theatre Shows to Book Now

Whether you’re a theatre-lover or a sun-soaker, open-air theatre shows combine a little of both. Wherever you’re spending your summer, our editors have selected some of the best al fresco shows to catch before the sun goes down.

CLOSING SOON: Owen Wingrave

July 27, 30 and August 3

Festival della Valle d’Itria, Martina Franca, Italy

While most outdoor theatre shows at this summer festival take place in July, there are a number of final performances in August. Running for a limited time only is Owen Wingrave by Benjamin Britten, based on the Henry James story. The production combines a tragic tale of anti-war rebellion with emotional music that draws upon Britten’s own expression of pacifism and response to the Vietnam War. Purchase your tickets now to catch the show before it closes.

Book here.

CLOSING SOON: Shakespeare in Love

Minack Theatre, Cornwall, UK

August 4 - 8

Based on the 1998 film featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes and adapted for stage by Lee Hall, Shakespeare in Love is a beautiful exploration of a fictional love affair between William Shakespeare and Viola de Lesseps. The Minack Theatre, an amphitheatre carved into a Cornish cliff-face, provides the perfect setting for this tale of forbidden love, which entertains the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s 'Romeo and Juliet’. The production has a very limited run, so we suggest purchasing your tickets promptly to avoid disappointment.

Book here.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW: THE MINACK THEATRE, CORNWALL

Der Freischütz (The Marksman)

Bregenzer Festspiele, Austria

Until August 17

This dramatic opera by Carl Maria von Weber and Friedrich Kind, an emotional tale of love and loss, continues to spellbind audiences today as it did in Berlin in 1821, when it was first performed. Set just after the Thirty Years’ War in rural Germany, the story follows the young lovers Max and Agathe, who must face a deadly challenge to secure their marriage.

Book here.

Brigadoon

Regent’s Open-Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, London

August 2 - September 20

After crash landing in the Scottish Highlands, two WW2 fighter pilots, Tommy and Jeff, resolve to find a way home. Nearby, sisters Fiona and Jean are getting ready for a wedding. Two worlds collide in the idyllic village of Brigadoon. This romantic production, written by the masterminds behind My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot, is returning to London this August for the first time in more than 35 years. Performed in the iconic Regent’s Open-Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, it promises to be a magical production.

Book here.

Shakespeare in the Park: Twelfth Night

Delacorte Theatre, Central Park, NYC

August 7 - September 14

The free Shakespeare in the Park series has been taking place in New York’s beloved Central Park for more than 60 years. This summer sees the opening of the refurbished Delacorte Theatre, with a fully accessible, sustainable space designed with better seating and a new façade. Twelfth Night, a midsummer drama that focuses on twins Sebastian and Viola, who are separated after a shipwreck, is the perfect story to bookmark the momentous occasion. Expect a star-studded lineup of talent, including Tony-Award nominated director Saheem Ali and actors Sandra Oh, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and real-life siblings Lupita and Junior Nyong’o as the leading duo.

Book here.

A HAVEN AMONGST THE CITY: CENTRAL PARK’S OPEN-AIR THEATRE

Of course, you can pair your theatrical experiences with stays in a luxurious property. In London, stay at Charlotte Street Hotel, located in the heart of the theatre district. In New York, try The Times Square EDITION, a trendy property just a stone’s throw from Broadway. Access these delightful hotels and more on ASMALLWORLD Collection.