Devon

While you settle in, switch off your phone and pour the fizz &#8211; just a quick parish notice: many of these events are organised as part of Plough Arts Outdoor Theatre. It&#8217;s a registered charity, so don&#8217;t forget some cash so you can buy a raffle ticket to support &#8211; only £1 per ticket! (and one winner takes half the proceeds).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tapeley-park-barnstaple"><a href="https://www.theploughartscentre.org.uk/whats-on/venue/Tapeley%20Park%2C%20Bideford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tapeley Park</a>, Barnstaple</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="995" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/three-inch.jpg" alt="Three Inch Fools Theatre Troupe " class="wp-image-66926" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/three-inch.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/three-inch-800x531.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/three-inch-1000x663.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/three-inch-768x509.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Three Inch Fools </figcaption></figure>



North Devon’s Italianate garden is bringing seven productions to the stage, with a bar and hot drinks available: Calf 2 Cow bring a brand-new slapstick adaptation Sherlock &amp; Watson: A Murder in the Garden (Tues 2 Jul); Illyria present The Gondoliers by Gilbert &amp; Sullivan (Thurs 9 Jul); Cornwall&#8217;s longest running theatre troupe Miracle Theatre perform 18th century-inspired romcom Love Riot (Fri 19 Jul); The Three Inch Fools&#8217; The Secret Diary of Henry VIII &#8211; How To Keep Your Head in the Tudor Court (Sun 18 Aug) is a brand-new epic comedy (with the option of workshop for 6-11 year olds beforehand) and Four Forty Theatre perform their condensed comedy Shakespeare double-bill of A Midsummer Night&#8217;s Dream and Twelfth Night (18 Aug). Organised by Plough Arts, £15-£11pp



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stone-lane-gardens-chagford"><a href="https://stonelanegardens.com/shop/event-tickets/the-comedy-of-errors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stone Lane Gardens</a>, Chagford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/threeinchfools.jpg" alt="Three Inch Fools theatre company on stage outdoors" class="wp-image-43895" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/threeinchfools.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/threeinchfools-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/threeinchfools-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/threeinchfools-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/threeinchfools-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pic credit: Three Inch Fools</figcaption></figure>



This five-acre gem of a garden bristles with National Collections of birch trees and alder, which provide an elegant backdrop for their annual sculpture exhibition and Three Inch Fools&#8217; Comedy of Errors (Weds 14 Aug). £17pp



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clovelly-court-clovelly"><a href="https://www.clovelly.co.uk/event/open-air-theatre-pride-prejudice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clovelly Court</a>, Clovelly</h2>



Oh, Mr Darcy! Hotbuckle Theatre are heading to North Devon’s historic fishing village as part of their 30-date UK tour with their adaptation of Jane Austen&#8217;s Pride and Prejudice (Sat 6 Jul). Well-behaved dogs are welcome. No barking! Self service soft drinks/tea/coffee available from the Gardener’s Hut.&nbsp;£15/ Kids £11



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre-in-the-park-rougemont-gardens-exeter"><a href="https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/genre/theatre-in-the-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Theatre in the Park</a>, Rougemont Gardens, Exeter </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/The-Winters-Tale_1000x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67023" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/The-Winters-Tale_1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/The-Winters-Tale_1000x1000-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/The-Winters-Tale_1000x1000-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/The-Winters-Tale_1000x1000-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/The-Winters-Tale_1000x1000-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Sun and Moon Theatre </figcaption></figure>



Exeter Phoenix&#8217;s outdoor theatre season sees three productions worth packing a picnic for: Cornwall&#8217;s longest running theatre troupe Miracle Theatre perform 18th century-inspired romcom Love Riot (Weds 31 Jul); Spork Summer Special for spoken-word, poetry, comedy &amp; live music (Thurs 1 Aug); andSun and Moon Theatre&#8217;s adaptation of the Bard&#8217;s The Winter&#8217;s Tale (above, Thurs 8 &#8211; Sun 11 Aug). £14.50-£5



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lapford-mill-nr-crediton"><a href="https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/events/a-comedy-of-errors-at-lapford-mill-outdoor-theatre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lapford Mill</a>, nr Crediton</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1316" height="640" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/lapford-theatre.jpg" alt="outdoor theatre at Lapford Mill, Crediton" class="wp-image-57453" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/lapford-theatre.jpg 1316w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/lapford-theatre-800x389.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/lapford-theatre-1000x486.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/lapford-theatre-768x373.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/lapford-theatre-900x438.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1316px) 100vw, 1316px" /></figure>



How about the grounds of a charming 15th century mill for some summer Shakespeare? This version of A Comedy of Errors (11 Jul) is performed by Cygnet Theatre and its billed as a rip-roaring farce of mistaken identity. Free parking in the field, organised by Plough Arts, £15-£11pp.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-torre-abbey-torquay"><a href="https://www.torre-abbey.org.uk/news/outdoor-theatre-this-summer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Torre Abbey</a>, Torquay</h2>



Three different theatre companies and three different plays to choose from, all set in the serene gardens of Torre Abbey&#8217;s 800-year old gardens and parkland. Kicking things off, Duke’s Theatre Company perform Shakespeare’s As You Like It (Sat 6 Jul 7pm, matinee Sun 7 Jul). For families, book Immersion Theatre&#8217;s magical Peter Pan (10 Aug at 1.30pm/4.40pm), and on 16 and 17 Aug the season finale is a double bill Shakespeare comedy mash-up of Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream from Four Forty Theatre, both just a rollercoaster ride of 40 minutes either side of the interval. £18.50-£11.55



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-castle-hill-filleigh-nr-south-molton"><a href="https://castlehilldevon.co.uk/events-castle-hill-devon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Castle Hill</a>, Filleigh nr South Molton</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="894" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/castle-hill-events-banner.jpg" alt="women wearing flower crowns at Castle Hill Filleigh outdoor event" class="wp-image-67039" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/castle-hill-events-banner.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/castle-hill-events-banner-800x715.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/06/castle-hill-events-banner-768x687.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Enjoy some thespian action from the grassy vantage point of Castle Hill&#8217;s natural amphitheatre. There&#8217;s a packed summer programme, including he family-friendly Adventures of Dr Doolittle (at 29 Jun), Miracle Theatre&#8217;s Love Riot (Sat 20 Jul), Secret Garden (Tues 6 Aug) and Sun and Moon Theatre&#8217;s A Winter&#8217;s Tale (16 Aug). Organised by Plough Arts, £15-£11pp.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hartland-abbey-hartland"><a href="https://www.hartlandabbey.com/events-exhibitions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hartland Abbey</a>, Hartland</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="951" height="595" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/hartland.jpg" alt="Hartland abbey outdoor theatre" class="wp-image-43713" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/hartland.jpg 951w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/hartland-800x501.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/hartland-768x481.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/hartland-839x525.jpg 839w" sizes="(max-width: 951px) 100vw, 951px" /></figure>



England’s last monastery is a worthy venue to throw down your picnic blanket, and you can wander around the grounds for free beforehand. We&#8217;re liking the sound of Box Trees&#8217; Production of the Wind in the Willows (Weds 31 Jul), The Festival Players&#8217; version of The Tempest (Weds 14 Aug), and on Weds 21 Aug Four Forty Theatre&#8217;s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night with the option on a drama workshop for 8 – 11 years (5-6.30pm – £5 with a Plough Workshop Leader. Organised by Plough Arts, £15-£11pp.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cockington-court-torquay"><a href="https://cockingtoncourt.org/events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cockington Court</a>, Torquay</h2>



Nestled in a charming olde-worlde thatched village, Cockington plays host to three outdoor plays by the always excellent Illyra &#8211; Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan (20 Jul), Shakespeare&#8217;s star-crossed lovers in Romeo and Juliet (11 Aug) and The Hound of the Baskervilles (15 Sept). £20-£14.

Deckchairs at the ready! Outdoor theatre to book now

You may also like