Regent’s Park's Open Air Theatre's summer season gets underway today (3 May) with Shakespeare's Twelfth Night set against the heat of the Mediterranean sun.
In a first for the theatre, it staged a children's show, Bear Snores On, throughout the Easter holidays in a pop up tent.
But now the al fresco drama starts in the Royal park, with the the Bard's comedy of mistaken identities and separated twins starring Raphael Bushay (Orsino), Richard Cant (Malvolio), Evelyn Miller (Viola), Andro Cowperthwaite (Sebastian), and Anna Francolini as Olivia.
Featuring original new songs, Twelfth Night runs until June 8 in tandem with Roald Dahl's Enormous Crocodile for ages four and up. The new musical version of the well-loved picture book, about a croc who vainly tries "secret plans and clever tricks" to gobble up children in a jungle playground, runs during the daytime from 17 May to 8 June.
It has a book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra, music by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab and promises a menagerie of inventive puppets by famous designer Toby Olié, unforgettable toe-tapping tunes, and mischievous audience interaction.
It is followed by a new version of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic tale The Secret Garden. (June 15 to July 20)
Holly Robinson and Anna Himali Howard, who also directs, have adapted the story of orphan Mary, sent to live with her uncle and sickly cousin on the remote Yorkshire Moors where she discovers a secret oasis in the grounds.
The season concludes with a new production of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's 60-year-old classic musical Fiddler on the Roof. Directed by Jordan Fein, it runs 27 July – 21 September and features the glorious songs If I Were A Rich Man, Tradition and Matchmaker.
The book by Joseph Stein is inspired by Sholem Aleichem's Yiddish stories about Jewish life in a shetl in Imperial Russia at the turn of the 20th century and concerns milkman Tevye trying to marry off his daughters against a backdrop of revolution.
The theatre's executive director James Pidgeon and outgoing artistic director Tim Sheader said: "This year’s summer season includes a Shakespeare comedy; a new commission of a literary favourite, continuing our commitment to the development of new work; a revival of a musical classic which this year celebrates its 60th birthday; and a new musical for ages 4+, produced in collaboration with Roald Dahl Story Company.
"Whilst Drew McOnie, our new artistic director, begins work on plans for 2025 and beyond, we look forward to welcoming you to Regent’s Park this summer for Tim’s 17th and final season which continues to celebrate the magic and power of togetherness that comes with telling stories under a shared sky."
Regent's Park Open Air season runs May 3 to September 21. Visit openairtheatre.com for tickets.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here