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WOS TV: Playing Outdoors in the Summer Months

Theo Bosanquet
London's West End

With London recently basking in sunshine, Whatsonstage.com TV has taken a closer look at what’s on offer this summer at the capital’s fantastic range of outdoor venues.

The new season at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is now in full swing following the recent opening of Much Ado About Nothing (See 1st Night Photos, 2 Jun 2009. We spoke to artistic director Timothy Sheader about the challenges of producing work outdoors and his thinking behind this year’s programme – his second at the venue since taking over from Ian Talbot in October 2007 (See News, 6 Mar 2007).

Playback should begin automatically. Filmed and edited by Whatsonstage.com TV editor Ian Miller.


Much Ado About Nothing, which stars Samantha Spiro and Sean Campion, runs alongside a new adaptation of The Tempest, re-imagined for children from six years up. Forthcoming productions in the new season are Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Hello, Dolly!, in which Spiro also stars.

At Shakespeare’s Globe, this year’s season is titled Young Hearts and features productions of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It and Troilus and Cressida, as well as Frank McGuinness’ reimaging of Euripess’ Medea and Trevor Griffiths’ new play A New World – A Life of Thomas Paine, examining the story behind influential English radical Thomas Paine (See News, 12 Feb 2009).

The Scoop at More London is serving up its seventh season of free outdoor theatre this year (See News, 6 May 2009). This year’s programme, which runs from 30 July to 6 September, comprises a new version of Euripides’ Medea and a family musical take on The Adventures of Jason and the Argonauts.