There’s perhaps nothing more magical than seeing a play or musical in the open air, and London is absolutely the city for it. In defiance of the weather gods, our outdoor theatre season now stretches from March to late October: we’re are just that tough. Or at least, optimistic about the weather.
Substantially it revolves around a few key theatres, notably Shakespeare’s Globe – open March to October and generally boasting a cheeky outdoor Christmas production – and the delightful Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, which is open late spring to the very end of summer. The former specialises in Shakespeare plays, while the latter has a musical theatre focus.
Althoiugh the summer is now basically over, the open air season continues for quite a while, especially at the Globe, where the main outdor theatre remains open until the end of October, and reopens in December for this year’s Christmas show Pinocchio.
Not sure what you'll need for an open-air theatre trip? Then don’t miss our guide to practical open-air theatre info.
If you’re interested in taking in some outdoor cinema this summer, head to our dedicated page.
What is it? This nutty 1947 musical from My Fair Lady writers Lerner & Loewe has faded out of fashion in recent years, presumably largely because its premise of a couple of Americans stumbling across a magical Scottish village that only appears every couple of hundred years is so bizarre. Top Scots playwright Rona Munro has bought a buit more gravitas to bear in a major update of the book for the first major UK revival since 1988.
Where is it? Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.
What is it? The outdoor theatre season wraps up with this intriguing free mini festival of Polish works. The shows are free and while in Polish, feature limited speaking ie are accessible to all. Click through for more detaiul but we can particuarly recommend Teatr Biuro Podróży’s shocking take on The Tempest.
Where is it? Bell Square, Hounslow.
What is it? Director Sean Holmes has a lot of fun essentially taking the piss out of Shakespeare’s flimsiest play, in an enjoyable production starring Globe regular George Fouracres as Sir John Falstaff.
Where is it? Shakespeare’s Globe.
What is it? Not seen in London for over a decade, Troilus and Cressida is Shakespeare’s extremely odd Trojan War drama that essentially combines a big chunk of the plot of the Illiad with a weirdy love story between the Trojan title characters that is basically just a subplot.
Where is it? Shakespeare’s Globe.
What is it? A new, carnival-tinged production of Shakespeare’s much loved comedy about a young woman who shipwrecks on an exotic shore and gets caught up in the convoluted romantic shenanigans of the island’s inhabitants.
Where is it? Shakespeare’s Globe.
What is it? The Globe has been staging outdoor Christmas shows for some years now. But this feels like a very bold commitment for the 2025 winter season: a full scale, full length new musical that will run outdoors through the darkest, coldest months. It is of course, an adaptation of the story of Pinocchio, albeit explictly the batshit mental original Carlo Collodi version as opposed to the admitedly still pretty wild Disney take that represents its most famous incarnation.
Where is it? Shakespeare’s Globe.
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