New Forest Open Air Theatre

A Woodland Theatre for Everyone

In Elizabethan London, when theatres closed during outbreaks of plague, Shakespeare's company took their plays into the countryside.

In the summer of 2020, after months of Covid isolation and with theatres once again silent, we followed their example.

We assembled a company of actors, borrowed costumes and equipment from closed theatres, and staged two Shakespeare productions beneath the trees of the New Forest.

What began as an emergency response became something far more significant. After months of separation, people gathered again to laugh, cry and share stories under open skies. We saw first-hand the power of live performance to bring people together, and the restorative effect of spending time in nature.

Those productions inspired a simple but ambitious vision: to create a permanent open-air theatre in the heart of the New Forest.

For six years we performed in the region while searching for a home. Now, we have finally found it.

What We're Building

Our vision is a unique woodland theatre where audiences can experience exceptional performance surrounded by nature, in Hinton Admiral.

The theatre will:

Seat up to 400 people
Be built from locally sourced coppiced timber
Take inspiration from ancient amphitheatres
Be designed in harmony with the landscape
Be dismantled each season to minimise environmental impact

Hidden among the trees, it will offer an unforgettable setting for theatre, music, storytelling and community events.

Where our theatre will be

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DOWNLOAD OUR PROJECT BROCHURE

Our Impact

We believe culture and nature should be accessible to everyone.

New Forest Open Air Theatre will:

Bring high-quality arts to local communities
Create opportunities for young people
Support wellbeing through shared experiences in nature
Provide learning, training and volunteering opportunities
Support local artists and businesses
Encourage sustainable cultural tourism

Alongside professional productions, the theatre will host community performances, outdoor learning programmes, workshops, family events and seasonal celebrations.

Our aim is simple: to create a place where people can connect—with stories, with nature and with one another.

Help Bring the Vision to Life

New Forest Open Air Theatre will be more than a venue. It will be a place where people gather beneath the trees to experience exceptional performance, connect with one another and create lasting memories.

With £750,000 still to raise, we are seeking individuals, trusts, foundations and businesses who share our belief in the power of culture, community and nature.

If this vision inspires you, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us in creating something extraordinary.

Download Our Project Brochure

Contact marcel@newforestopenairtheatre.co.uk