London

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regent-s-park-open-air-theatre"><a href="https://openairtheatre.com/whats-on">Regent&#8217;s Park</a> Open Air Theatre</h2>



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Arguably the hottest spot for picnics and al-fresco culture, the open air theatre at Regent’s Park has another fabulous season lined up this summer. Leading the lot is <a href="https://openairtheatre.com/production/twelfth-night-or-what-you-will">Twelfth Night</a>, Shakespeare&#8217;s comedy of mistaken identities, love, nostalgia and riotous parties (until Sat 8 Jun). Followed by childhood classic, <a href="https://openairtheatre.com/production/the-secret-garden">The Secret Garden</a> (Sat 15 Jun – Sat 20 Jul), where all the leafy loveliness of the park will bring Frances Hodgson Burnett&#8217;s magical story to life. And for the musical fans among you, start practicing your yubby-dibby-dums for this fantastic new production of <a href="https://openairtheatre.com/production/fiddler-on-the-roof">Fiddler on the Roof</a> (Sat 27 Jul – Sat 21 Sep).



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For littlies, Roald Dahl&#8217;s family favourite, <a href="https://openairtheatre.com/production/the-enormous-crocodile">The Enormous Crocodile</a>, has been given the musical treatment. His tale of a croc with a taste for children is brought to life with fantastic puppets, imaginative characters, a colourful set and some toe-tapping tunes. Suitable for ages 4+ but all ages will be hard pushed not to enjoy this (on until Sat 8 Jun).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shakespeare-s-globe"><a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shakespeare&#8217;s Globe</a></h2>



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Fun and games are afoot in Shakespeare&#8217;s timeless comedy, <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/much-ado-about-nothing/">Much Ado About Nothing</a> (Fri 24 May – Sat 24 Aug) which kicks off The Globe&#8217;s summer offering. This is followed by <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/richard-iii/#0">Richard III</a>, which has been given a welcome dose of #girlpower thanks to the primarily female cast – Michelle Terry is particularly superb as the self-serving Richard (Fri 24 May – Sat 3 Aug). Director Jude Christian has created a riotous and entertaining production of <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/the-taming-of-the-shrew/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Taming of the Shrew</a> (Thu 6 Jun-Sat 26 Oct), the play which inspired 10 Things I Hate About You (lest we forget Heath Ledger). And <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/antony-and-cleopatra/">Antony &amp; Cleopatra</a> return to the Globe for the first time in ten years bringing with them a delicious dose of power, duty, love and passion in a ground-breaking, bilingual production, using spoken English and British Sign Language (Sun 4 Aug – Sun 15 Sep).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="625" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Comedy-of-Erros-2023-PROD-2007.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1766" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Comedy-of-Erros-2023-PROD-2007.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Comedy-of-Erros-2023-PROD-2007-300x188.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Comedy-of-Erros-2023-PROD-2007-768x480.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



After a sell out run last year, <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/the-comedy-of-errors/">The Comedy of Errors</a> is back by popular demand transforming The Globe&#8217;s stage into a bustling dock complete with a pier, ship mast and plenty of slapstick, seaside silliness to take you through to autumn (Wed 21 Aug – Sun 27 Oct). And lastly, not strictly Shakespeare, but Anne Odeke&#8217;s bold, one woman show is too good to miss! Based on the incredibly true story of the first woman of colour to enter a beauty pageant in the UK, <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/princess-essex/">Princess Essex</a> is a fierce, funny, fast-paced, music-filled must-see (Fri 13 Sep – Sat 26 Oct). 



And for when the weather takes an inevitable turn (British summertime and all that), but you still want a bit of the Bard, check out the family friendly <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/rough-magic/">Rough Magic</a> at the Sam Wannamaker Theatre in all its candlelit glory (Sat 20 Jul – Sat 24 Aug)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chiswick-house-amp-gardens"><a href="https://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/whats-on/">Chiswick House &amp; Gardens</a></h2>



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Theatrical backdrops don’t get much more spectacular than the glorious Chiswick House and Gardens. When you&#8217;re not admiring the camellias, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men will present <a href="https://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/event/the-lord-chamberlains-men-hamlet/">Hamlet</a> with an all-male cast just like in Shakespeare’s day, Elizabethan costumes, music, dance – the lot (Wed 3 Jul).



And for the kids – join Quantum Theatre and their lively production of <a href="https://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/event/the-tale-of-jemima-puddle-duck-by-quantum-theatre/">The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck</a> (Wed 31 Jul), Beatrix Potter&#8217;s loveable fowl and the laugh-out-loud <a href="https://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/event/the-adventures-of-doctor-dottle-by-illyria-theatre/">Adventures of Doctor Dolittle</a> which is brought to life by the award-winning Illyria Theatre (Wed 21 Aug). Bring low backed chairs or blankets, if you can get up afterwards, and a picnic for a lush, family afternoon out. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre-on-the-kew-kew-gardens"><a href="https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/theatre-on-kew-24">Theatre on the Kew</a>, Kew Gardens</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="562" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Willow-body-image-7.png-copy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1792" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Willow-body-image-7.png-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Willow-body-image-7.png-copy-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/Willow-body-image-7.png-copy-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



A summer of fantastic outdoor theatre continues at the verdant Kew Gardens which has once again partnered with the superb Australian Shakespeare Company. Pack a picnic and blanket ready for a riotous ride with Toad, Badger, Ratty and Mole in <a href="https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/theatre-on-kew-the-wind-in-the-willows">The Wind in the Willows</a> &#8211; poop poop! An immersive musical adventure with The Dream Fairies on an <a href="https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/theatre-on-kew-dream-fairies">Adventure to Bubble Land</a>. And for some Shakers under the stars, a magical production of <a href="https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/theatre-on-kew-a-midsummer-nights-dream">A Midsummer Night’s Dream</a>. Various dates from Sat 20 Jul – Sun 1 Sep, tickets for any production include entry into Kew Gardens completing a gorgeous day out. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opera-holland-park"><a href="https://operahollandpark.com/season-and-events/2024-season/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Opera Holland Park</a></h2>



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As usual, Opera Holland Park are gearing up for another cracking season of al fresco opera but tickets are selling up so get in quick. Puccini&#8217;s diva in love, <a href="https://operahollandpark.com/productions/tosca-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tosca</a>, kicks things off (Tue 28 May – Sat 22 Jun) followed by Rossini&#8217;s sparkling bel-canto comedy <a href="https://operahollandpark.com/productions/the-barber-of-seville-2024/">The Barber of Seville</a> (Tue 4 – Fri 21 Jun) which acts as prequel to Mozart&#8217;s Marriage of Figaro. Next on the docket is <a href="https://operahollandpark.com/productions/edgar-2024/">Edgar</a> an early Puccini about a knight who must choose between vice and virtue (Tue 2 – Sat 6 Jul).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="995" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/1700037519628.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1806" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/1700037519628.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/1700037519628-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/1700037519628-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/05/1700037519628-768x764.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



For more baritones for your buck, a <a href="https://operahollandpark.com/productions/il-segreto-di-susanna-pagliacci-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">delicious double bill</a> fuelled by sexual jealousy – yikes. Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari&#8217;s elegant honeymoon comedy Il segreto di Susanna contrasts perfectly with Ruggero Leoncavallo&#8217;s shocking double murder drama, Pagliacci (Wed 17 Jul – Sat 3 Aug). Handel&#8217;s tragicomedy <a href="https://operahollandpark.com/productions/acis-and-galatea-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acis and Galatea</a> (Fri 19 Jul – Fri 2 Aug) is next with Gilbert and Sullivan’s <a href="https://operahollandpark.com/productions/the-yeomen-of-the-guard-2024/">The Yeoman of the Guard</a> (Wed 7 – Sat 10 Aug) rounding off a superb summer of song. All performances are relaxed (no ball gowns and DJs necessary) however you can pimp your trip by booking a picnic table and ordering a fancy picnic hamper from stalwart Italian restaurant Il Portico <a href="https://operahollandpark.com/your-visit/food-drink/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-stage-more-screen">Less stage, more screen&#8230;</h2>



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Fancy pairing classic blockbusters with a summer night breeze? Then pray for sun as Queen of the summer cinema scene, <a href="https://rooftopfilmclub.com">Rooftop Film Club</a> brings a mix of new and classic movie like Ferris Bueller&#8217;s Day Off, Past Lives, Trainspotting and Back To Black to the rooftop of Peckham&#8217;s <a href="https://rooftopfilmclub.com/london/venue/bussey-building/">Bussey Building</a>, and screenings of Barbie, Sixth Sense and Poor Things to Stratford&#8217;s <a href="https://rooftopfilmclub.com/london/venue/roof-east/">Roof East</a> again this year from the end of May through to autumn. 



Sticking with rooftops, <a href="https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2024/series/outdoor-cinema-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Film Nights Under City Lights</a> at the Barbican return from Wed 21 Aug – Sun 1 Sep. There&#8217;s a selection of street food vendors and bars on site, and a varied selection of films scheduled including The Grand Budapest Hotel, Marie Antoinette and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as well as some cracking musical documentaries and Studio Ghibli anime magic.



Adventure Cinema is doing the rounds again coming to <a href="https://www.adventurecinema.co.uk/venues/charlton-house-gardens">Charlton House</a> (Fri 7 – Sun 9 Jun) and <a href="https://www.adventurecinema.co.uk/venues/osterley-park-and-house">Osterley Park and House</a> (Thu 8 – Sun 11 Aug) where Grease, Back to the Future and Dirty Dancing are among the classics getting an airing. 



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Clear all your Tuesdays in July as pop-up cinema, Summer Screen, returns to <a href="https://beinvauxhall.com/vauxhall-summer/">Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens</a> for an 11th year showing five films across four Tuesday evenings. Bookmark Encanto (9 Jul), Barbie (16 Jul), Men in Black (23 Jul), Moulin Rouge and King Fu Panda (both 30 Jul). All screenings are free (woohoo) but book tickets. 



<a href="https://londonbridgecity.co.uk/events/2024/may/summer-by-the-river-2024-1">Summer By The River</a> at London Bridge returns for another fab season of pop-up events and gigs including some crackers on the big screen too including <a href="https://londonbridgecity.co.uk/events/2024/june/summer-by-the-river-mean-girls-2024">Mean Girls</a> (Tue 4 Jun), <a href="https://londonbridgecity.co.uk/events/2024/june/summer-by-the-river-barbie">Barbie</a> (Tue 18 Jun) and <a href="https://londonbridgecity.co.uk/events/2024/july/summer-by-the-river-back-to-the-future">Back To The Future</a> (Tue 16 Jul).



And keep your eyes peeled for updates on the <a href="https://www.kingscross.co.uk/event/screen-on-the-canal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Free Open Air Film Festival</a> which returns to Kings Cross (Mon 1 Jul-Sun 18 Aug) but is yet to announce its roll call of cinematic hits.

Hot ticket! Best outdoor theatre and cinema to book now

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