Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/06/The-Handlebards-outdoor-theatre.jpg" alt="The Handlebards open air theatre Hampshire" class="wp-image-34093" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/06/The-Handlebards-outdoor-theatre.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/06/The-Handlebards-outdoor-theatre-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/06/The-Handlebards-outdoor-theatre-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/06/The-Handlebards-outdoor-theatre-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: The Handlebards</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-much-ado-about-nothing-5-7-june-7pm-furzey-gardens-minstead-new-forest"><a href="https://www.furzey-gardens.org/whats-on/the-handlebards-present-much-ado-about-nothing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Much Ado About</em> <em>Nothing</em></a>, 5-7 June (7pm), Furzey Gardens, Minstead, New Forest</h2>



<p>Pedalling from venue to venue complete with set and costumes, the HandleBards, a four-strong troupe of actors, bring a bicycle-powered, energetic and slightly chaotic open air theatre production of&nbsp;Shakespeare’s <em>Much Ado About Nothing </em>to the beautiful Furzey Gardens over three evenings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-julius-caesar-12-14-june-6-30pm-and-15-june-2-30pm-northwood-house-cowes-isle-of-wight"><a href="https://northwoodhouse.org/event/shakespeares-julius-caesar-outdoor-theatre/"><em>Julius Caesar</em>,</a> 12-14 June (6.30pm) and 15 June (2.30pm), Northwood House, Cowes, Isle of Wight</h2>



<p><em>“Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears.”</em> The sedate picnic area of the magnificent Northwood House estate is set to become the streets of Rome for Shakespeare’s thrilling tale of power and villainy, performed by seasoned actors from Ad Lib Theatre.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-pirates-of-penzance-21-june-7pm-the-hospital-of-saint-cross-winchester"><a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/winchester/the-hospital-of-st-cross/the-pirates-of-penzance/e-qdoqkd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Pirates of Penzance</em></a>, 21 June (7pm), The Hospital of Saint Cross, Winchester</h2>



<p>Part of The Winchester Garden Festival 2025, the beautiful gardens at The Hospital of Saint Cross will become the high seas. Expect a rousing outdoor performance of Gilbert &amp; Sullivan’s much-loved comic operetta, ‘<em>The Pirates of Penzance’</em> by one of the UK’s leading G&amp;S touring companies, Opera Anywhere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sense-and-sensibility-28-june-7pm-the-vyne-basingstoke"><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/the-vyne/events/4a890972-0cb7-4435-af5b-a96b0e13c991" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Sense and Sensibility</em></a>, 28 June (7pm), The Vyne, Basingstoke</h2>



<p>A fitting location for the great author&#8217;s classic story in the very heart of her beloved North Hampshire. See the madcap and crazily inventive Pantaloons Theatre Company performing their own twist on Jane Austen&#8217;s classic<em>&nbsp;Sense &amp; Sensibility</em>&nbsp;on The Vyne’s sweeping north lawn.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alice-in-furzeyland-2-5-july-7pm-furzey-gardens-minstead-new-forest"><em><a href="https://www.furzey-gardens.org/whats-on/sup-theatre-company-present-alice-in-furzeyland/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alice in FurzeyLand</a></em>, 2-5 July (7pm), Furzey Gardens, Minstead, New Forest</h2>



<p>Ever had that feeling you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole? A fast-paced performance of the dream-like tale in the blooming pretty gardens, performed by SUP Theatre Company.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-twelfth-night-12-july-7pm-chawton-house-chawton"><em><a href="https://chawtonhouse.org/whats-on/outdoor-theatre-the-lord-chamberlains-men-twelfth-night/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twelfth Night</a>, </em>12 July (7pm), Chawton House, Chawton</h2>



<p>With an impressive history stretching back to William Shakespeare’s original company, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present this tale of romantic confusion as he first saw it – in the open air, with an all male cast and Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="990" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/05/PSC-A-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-open-air-theatre.jpg" alt="A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Petersfield Shakespeare Festival at Wylds Farm, 7pm &amp; 2pm, 18–20 July, Wylds Farm, Liss Open air theatre outdoor theatre Hampshire" class="wp-image-37330" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/05/PSC-A-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-open-air-theatre.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/05/PSC-A-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-open-air-theatre-800x528.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/05/PSC-A-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-open-air-theatre-1000x660.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/05/PSC-A-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-open-air-theatre-768x507.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Petersfield Shakespeare Festival</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-midsummer-night-s-dream-the-petersfield-shakespeare-festival-at-wylds-farm-18-20-july-7pm-amp-2pm-wylds-farm-liss"><a href="https://psfest.co.uk/a-midsummer-nights-dream/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>A Midsummer Night&#8217;s Dream</em></a>, The Petersfield Shakespeare Festival at Wylds Farm, 18–20 July (7pm &amp; 2pm), Wylds Farm, Liss</h2>



<p>A popular outdoor theatre festival&nbsp;in the South Downs National Park, supporting Mind. Have a drink at Wyld&#8217;s Farm&#8217;s Bottoms Up bar, then promenade up the hill to find an enchanted forest full of warring fairies and sparring lovers. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-twelfth-night-20-july-6pm-ningwood-manor-ningwood-yarmouth"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shakespeare-in-the-garden-twelfth-night-tickets-1365395076429?aff=erelexpmlt&amp;_gl=1*7p3izi*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTQwMjk3MTI2Ny4xNzQ4NTI2ODU5*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3NDg1MjY4NTgkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDg1MjY4NTgkajYwJGwwJGgw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Twelfth Night</em></a>, 20 July (6pm), Ningwood Manor, Ningwood, Yarmouth</h2>



<p>It&#8217;s Shakespeare in the Garden with the Castle Theatre Company, one of the oldest performing arts groups at Durham University. See its 2025 national touring production of the Bard&#8217;s entertaining comedy as it comes to the Isle of Wight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-rivals-2-25-august-7pm-furzey-gardens-minstead-new-forest"><a href="https://www.furzey-gardens.org/whats-on/new-forest-open-air-theatre-present-the-rivals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Rivals,</em></a> 2-25 August (7pm), Furzey Gardens, Minstead, New Forest</h2>



<p>No, it&#8217;s not Jilly Cooper&#8217;s badly behaved Cotswolds set. But it&#8217;s sure to be entertaining, nonetheless. Sheridan&#8217;s comedy of manners will be presented with live music and song by the West End company of New Forest Open Air Theatre (previously London Touring Players) in another great outdoor production at Furzey Gardens this summer. Love, hijinks and mistaken identity set in the Edwardian age with live jazz and swashbuckling soldiers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-wind-in-the-willows-6-august-7pm-exbury-gardens-exbury-new-forest"><em><a href="https://www.exbury.co.uk/open-air-theatre-the-wind-in-the-willows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wind in the Willows</a></em>, 6 August (7pm), Exbury Gardens, Exbury, New Forest</h2>



<p>Mole yearns to explore the wide world. Badger enjoys peace and quiet. Rat likes just messing about in boats. Then Toad gets a Motor Car and &#8216;Toot Toot&#8217;, no more peaceful life on the riverbank. See the award-winning Illyria company celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale at the beautiful Exbury Gardens.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hamlet-stansted-park-7-august-7pm-rowlands-castle"><a href="https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/hamlet"><em>Hamlet</em></a>, Stansted Park, 7 August (7pm), Rowlands Castle</h2>



<p><em>&#8220;Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t!”</em>. Join the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company as they tackle Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy in their own anarchic style at the beautiful Stansted Park estate&#8217;s walled garden.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-robin-hood-14-august-2pm-staunton-country-park-havant"><em><a href="https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/staunton-country-park/events/robin-hood-2025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robin Hood</a>,</em> 14 August (2pm), Staunton Country Park, Havant</h2>



<p>Prince John and the shifty Sheriff of Nottingham aim to thwart Robin Hood and his Merry Men. But can they outwit the outlaw? Folksy Theatre’s family-friendly adaptation features live music, audience interaction and delightful silliness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-big-bad-wolf-14-august-6pm-stansted-park-rowlands-castle"><a href="https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/the-big-bad-wolf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Big Bad Wolf</em></a>, 14 August (6pm), Stansted Park, Rowlands Castle</h2>



<p>Look out, Red! A rock &#8216;n&#8217; roll loving Big, Bad Wolf is happily partying in the Deep, Dark, Woods in this funny, family open air theatre production from The Plandits. But is this notorious villain really as bad as he seems? </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-macbeth-16-august-7pm-the-vyne-basingstoke"><em><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/the-vyne/events/98bf2ef9-a93b-4752-aee3-e0527f273797">Macbeth</a></em>, 16 August (7pm), The Vyne, Basingstoke</h2>



<p>A reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy from The Dukes Theatre Company. Known for their bold and innovative interpretations, expect a contemporary edge to the dark tale of ambition, murder and madness.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-romeo-and-juliet-20-august-6-30pm-and-nbsp-pride-and-prejudice-21-august-6-30pm-beaulieu-new-forest"><em><a href="https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/weekend-events/outdoor-theatre/">Romeo and Juliet</a></em>, 20 August (6.30pm) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/weekend-events/outdoor-theatre/"><em>Pride and Prejudice</em></a>, 21 August (6.30pm), Beaulieu, New Forest</h2>



<p>Comedy, tragedy and a whole lot of romance over two open air theatre nights at Beaulieu this summer. See the Chapterhouse Theatre Company bring one of these iconic stories to life. Or immerse yourself in both, with a dual ticket option.</p>



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Open air theatre around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

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