Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park
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| Open Air Theatre | |
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| The stage of the Open Air Theatre in June 2005, for a production of Cymbeline | |
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| Address | |
| City | |
| Owned by | New Shakespeare Company |
| Capacity | 1,200 seat |
| Type | Open air theatre, with resident company |
| Opened | 1932 |
| Production | Summer repertory |
| www.openairtheatre.org | |
| Coordinates: | |
The Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park in the City of Westminster, is a permanent venue with a three to four month summer season. It was founded in 1932 by Sydney Carroll and Robert Atkins.[1]
The resident company is the New Shakespeare Company. Each season typically consists of a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, a second Shakespeare play, a musical and a children's show, performed in rotation. Frequently members of the cast are in many if not all of the productions for a season.[2]
The theatre is located on the inner-circle of Regent's Park and consequently is surrounded by park. The theatre claims to have one of the longest bars in any theatre in London - stretching the entire length of the seating.[citation needed] The bar serves full meals from an hour and a half before performances begin as well as during the interval. A barbecue is also provided as well as a picnic lawn with tables for the audience to bring their own food.
The theatre houses an extensive backstage area complete with green room for the company and technical team, a workshop and paintshop for the creation and maintenance of sets and numerous offices for stage management, sound, LX and other crew.
Being open air, performances are dependant on the not-so dependable British weather, with the 2007 season being frequently disrupted due to the unprecedented summer rainfall. In the case of wet weather, the Met Office is called to determine the immediate forecast. Shows cannot be held for longer than 45 minutes, especially in the case of matinees as the delayed finish will dramtically interfere with the technical preparations for the evening show.
The 2005 summer season included productions of Twelfth Night and HMS Pinafore.
The 2006 summer season included productions of The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Boy Friend and Babe, the Sheep Pig
The 2007 summer season included productions of Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lady Be Good, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Boy Friend.
2007 saw the 25th and final year of artistic director, Ian Talbot. The choice to perform Lady Be Good was in reflection of his final year, being the first musical he directed at the park.
[edit] References
- Guide to British Theatres 1750-1950, John Earl and Michael Sell pp. 129-30 (Theatres Trust, 2000) ISBN 0-7136-5688-3
[edit] External links
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