Sunny Stages – Our pick of the best outdoor theatre this summer

Andy Murray is the sportsperson on everyone's lips, TFL keeps reminding us to drink water and our inboxes are full of EdFringe press releases – it must be summer.

While most theatres these days have installed air conditioning, there's no better way to get your theatre fix than by visiting one of the many productions taking place around the country in outdoor theatres. We take a look at some of the options below.

Opera Holland Park

Opera Holland Park is a summer opera company which produces an annual season of opera staged under a canopy in Holland Park, west London. Each season half a dozen operas are staged. Many are well known classics but the company has developed a reputation for producing more obscure works.

Following its 2013 premiere, Will Todd’s production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland returns as part of the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s novel.

You can read Susan Elkin's review of the 2013 production here and book tickets for the production here.

Free open-air theatre season at The Scoop

The More London Free Festival returns offering a month-long selection of free theatre a stone's throw from Tower Bridge.

This year's festival includes one show for all the family and one for older audiences. Captain Show-Off! (6pm) is adapted from the Roman comedies of Plautus by Phil Willmott and Women of Troy (8pm), adapted by Lisa Kuma from Euripides' Trojan War Trilogy. Both productions run Wednesday – Sunday throughout August.

For more information click here.

Iris Theatre – The Actors' Church

Following productions of Richard III and Alice through the Looking Glass last year, Iris Theatre return to the Covent Garden venue with two new promenade productions: Twelfth Night (until 24 July) and Pinnocchio (29 July – 29 Aug).

For more information and to book tickets, click here.

Shakespeare's Globe

Not just a nice place to visit on the river but a must see for any theatregoer. Shakespeare's Globe is a unique venue dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouse for which he wrote.

The current season includes Michelle Terry in As You Like It, Charles Edwards in Richard II and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Nell Gwynn.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

One of the highlights of our summer is a trip to the Open Air Theatre. With award-winning management, the Regent's Park venue produces top quality theatre throughout the summer months.

A reimagining of Peter Pan kicked off the season, followed by The Seagull starring Janie Dee (until 11 July), Laura Pitt-Pulford and Alex Gaumond in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (16 July – 29 August) and Lord of the Flies (3 – 12 September).

Read our reviews of Peter Pan and The Seagull, and book tickets for future productions here.

Minack Theatre

Another staple of our summer calendar is the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. Carved into the cliffs at Porthcurno, 4 miles from Land's End, the venue was built in the 30's with the intention of providing a group of local players with a location to perform their plays.

The venue is still largely used by amateur dramatics companies and this season's highlights include Carmen (New Cornwall Opera), King Lear (Winchester Players) and The Ladykillers (Ilkley Playhouse).

Find out more here.

Chapterhouse Theatre Company

Professional open-air theatre company Chapterhouse is performing in over 150 of Britain and Ireland’s most beautiful and idyllic garden settings this year.

Productions include The Jungle Book, The Secret Garden and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.

Click here to book tickets.