Set in London's stunning Regent Park, the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is not only the oldest professional outdoor theatre in the United Kingdom but also one of London's most significant producing theatres. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has been commissioning and producing since 1932 when its long and illustrious history first began. This was the beginning of what would be a hugely successful outdoor endeavour because in 1933 the theatre went from temporary to staging its first full season outdoors in Regent's Park. Since then, the theatre has gone from strength to strength. 150,000 people attend every year and the theatre has won multiple awards, including seven Olivier Awards, and Theatre of the Year in 2017. Productions that are staged at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre often go on to tour nationally and internationally and are also often transferred to London's prestigious West End.
The Perfect Park Location
The theatre resides in London's beautiful Regent's Park, one of the royal parks, located in the north west of the city, covering 410 acres. It has a beautiful ornamental lake, wetlands, sports pitches, children's play areas, and the open-air theatre. The park was designed by John Nash to service the beautiful houses he also designed in the surrounding areas. Regent's Park is certainly a cultural hub in London and the theatre plays a key role in producing fantastic performances for locals and tourists alike.
The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre hosts around four full-scale productions each year. They show everything from musicals, plays, Shakespeare plays, and family-friendly pieces. Around the theatre there are plenty of things to do before and after the show, whether you're on a grown-up night out or theatre-going with children. The theatre itself has a number of food offerings and there are many restaurants and cafes both around and in Regent's Park. The park has children's play areas, boating activities on the lake, and offers lots of gorgeous flora to explore.
The theatre itself is surrounded by incredible trees: London Plane Trees, Sycamores, Chestnuts, and Yews, bringing a truly magical feeling to the surroundings and enhancing the world that is emerging on the stage, particularly for performances of Shakespeare. The theatre seats 1304 people, but the outdoor setting produces a special kind of intimacy with the actors on stage, even when the show is full of spectacle. It is easy to imagine a warm summer's evening sitting in the amphitheater-like theatre watching a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, you'd almost feel as if Titania Queen of the Faeries might genuinely descend from the trees into the theatre itself.
Shakespeare & Success
There had been calls for London to have its open-air theatre for many years prior to Atkin's and Carroll staging a show there. In 1913, prominent critic Mr. Robb Lawson wrote that "one's thoughts quicken in daylight – the largest calm of the open heaven refreshes our souls and we drink in deeper impressions." Lawson was one of many arguing for the opening of such a theatre, and later, in 1933, the Regent's Park Theatre opened with a full season of Shakespeare, showing As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Reviews from the period describe the setting beautifully: the theatre has a "carpet of daisies, has a natural rake, and the clear level of the stage is backed by little woodland alleys along which the players come and go."
The theatre grew in acclaim over the years and its stage has seen many outstanding actors. In 1936, not long after its opening three years earlier, Vivien Leigh played Anne Boelyn in Henry VII, in 1991 Judi Dench starred in The Boy from Syracuse, and in celebration of Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday, Hannah Waddingham and Jenna Russell starred in Into the Woods, which won an award for Best Musical Revival.
The theatre also kept on going in difficult times over the years. During World War 2, the theatre kept producing matinee-only seasons so that Londoners could still enjoy the theatre even during blackouts. Only Regent's Park Theatre and the Windmill Theatre remained open throughout the war. Following restrictions during 2020, the theatre reopened with Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert. It was the first West End production to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expansion & Legacy
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has expanded over the years, building permanent brick dressing rooms and rehearsal studios to replace the tents it began with, emphasising the enduring appeal of this wonderful institution. The large amphitheatre now boasts comfortable seating and in-house bars and restaurants. There is Covered Dining, which boasts an accreditation as a Sustainably Run Restaurant, with The Grill and the Pizza Oven serving up something for the whole family. There is also plenty of space nearby to set up camp for a picnic before your show, meaning there is no need to rush as you can really make a day of it out in the beautiful park.
Theatre is central to the culture in London, with its bustling and prestigious West End. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre offers a unique theatre-going experience that is suitable for a wide range of audiences. It provides a friendly, magical environment while also producing outstanding theatre that is recognised globally for its quality and innovation. Next time you are in London or are thinking of heading out to a show, definitely add Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to your list – this important and historic venue is not to be missed.
