New open air theatre planned in Crystal Palace

A brand new open air theatre is being planned in Crystal Palace Park, with a month-long trial season proposed in the summer of 2018.

The intention is to open Crystal Palace Park Theatre on the Italian terraces, which offer views across central London and the Home Counties.

A crowdfunding campaign for the trial period is due to start on 30 June, with a campaign to pledge support beginning now. The proposed month-long season is due to take place in July 2018 and would feature cinema, art, theatre and community group workshops. The intention is to feature pop-up bars and restaurants from the local area at the venue too.

The aim of the trial season is to help make the Crystal Palace Park Theatre become a more permanent feature of the park and a national destination. Currently the board of the theatre includes David Parfitt, Nicholas Pinnock and Guy Chapman. David Fry, who was head of theatres at The Lowry, will be artistic director of the theatre.

There will be a restoration levy per ticket sold which will go towards the ongoing support of the terraces.