Lyn Gardner praises outdoor theatre – the most democratic of artforms – and encourages more companies to take it seriously.
The outdoor theatre season is upon us. Over recent weeks, I’ve stood in the drizzle in Brighton and in the blazing sunshine in Greenwich, watching small- and large-scale work, some of it very good indeed, and listening to the very particular merry gurgle of an alfresco crowd enjoying themselves. It is the most democratic of art forms, generally free at the point of delivery and with an audience who can walk away at any time.
There is an increasing sense, particularly post-2012, that UK companies are getting more confident about making outdoor theatre and putting together high-quality shows. The Without Walls commissions supporting the creation of new touring work have definitely raised the bar. The remarkable 101 outdoor arts creation space near Newbury on the site of the old Greenham Common cruise-missile base is playing its part too, offering 10,000 sq ft of warehouse space and caravan accommodation where companies can undertake residencies and create large-scale work. Periplum’s current show, 451, inspired by Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, was developed and supported there.
Outdoor theatre no longer feels like a cul-de-sac but is becoming a two-way street. Excellent companies such as Gandini Juggling and Tangled Feet are working both indoors and out, and applying contemporary theatre techniques to outdoor work and making it open to a wider range of influences... Keep reading on The Guardian
The outdoor theatre season is upon us. Over recent weeks, I’ve stood in the drizzle in Brighton and in the blazing sunshine in Greenwich, watching small- and large-scale work, some of it very good indeed, and listening to the very particular merry gurgle of an alfresco crowd enjoying themselves. It is the most democratic of art forms, generally free at the point of delivery and with an audience who can walk away at any time.
There is an increasing sense, particularly post-2012, that UK companies are getting more confident about making outdoor theatre and putting together high-quality shows. The Without Walls commissions supporting the creation of new touring work have definitely raised the bar. The remarkable 101 outdoor arts creation space near Newbury on the site of the old Greenham Common cruise-missile base is playing its part too, offering 10,000 sq ft of warehouse space and caravan accommodation where companies can undertake residencies and create large-scale work. Periplum’s current show, 451, inspired by Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, was developed and supported there.
Outdoor theatre no longer feels like a cul-de-sac but is becoming a two-way street. Excellent companies such as Gandini Juggling and Tangled Feet are working both indoors and out, and applying contemporary theatre techniques to outdoor work and making it open to a wider range of influences... Keep reading on The Guardian