Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World
Slide Nr 1The word “theatre” has its origin in the ancient Greek “theasthai”,which means “to behold”. But sometimes, the players on the stage aren’t the only thing worth beholding. Mother Nature herself has provided the extraordinary backdrops for these open-air theatres, creating a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. Let the catharsis commence.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 2Teatro Greco di Taormina in Taormina, Sicily – An exquisite vestige of Greek theatre and architectural genius, the Taormina theatre overlooks the Ionian Sea and Capo Schisò bay, where the first Greek settlers landed in the 8th century BC. First built in the 3rd century BC, and then transformed into an amphitheatre for gladiatorial battles under 2nd century Roman rule, the ancient theatre is a sight to see: carved out of a hillside overlooking the sea, with Mount Etna rising in the distance. The acoustics are excellent, and the theatre hosts dramatic productions every summer, in addition to concerts and the renowned Taormina Film Fest, which has hosted silver-screen legends like Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando. [Photo: Taormina Theatre, mariocutroneo/Flickr]
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 3Vondelpark Open-Air Theater in Amsterdam, Netherlands – Open since the 1860s, Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s largest urban park; as such, it became a popular anything-goes hangout for hippies during the ‘60s and ‘70s, who brought their music and free-spirited attitude to performances at the park (referred to as happenings) and so-called Vondelpark Parties, which quickly swelled to include thousands of visitors. In 1974 both events merged, and an open-air theatre was built in the ‘80s. Today, the Vondelpark Open Air Theatre hosts a huge variety of free shows and performances from June through August, ranging from modern dance and cabaret shows to children’s theatre and pop music concerts.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 4Regent’s Park Open-Air Theatre in London, UK – A 160-hectare park with a long, royal history and ample space for sports and leisure activities, as well as many gardens, the charms of Regent’s Park are many. However, the shiniest “jewel in its crown” is undoubtedly Regent’s Park Theatre. Established in 1932, this award-winning open-air theatre is one of the city’s largest theatres, as well as a favourite destination for the over 140,000 drama lovers that visit each year from May to September. Under the direction of chief executives Timothy Sheader and William Village, the theatre has staged a number of award-winning productions in the past 10 years, with highlights including The Sound of Music, Into the Woods and Jesus Christ Superstar.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 5Toga Open Air Theatre in Toyama Prefecture, Japan – Set in the mountains of eastern-central Japan, Toga Art Park is such a unique performing arts destination that’s been called “The Mecca of Theatre”. Offering residence and rehearsal halls, and no fewer than seven theatres, the complex is home base for director Tadashi Suzuki’s theatre company, which he relocated here in 1974. In 1982, he enlisted the help of architect Arata Isozaki to build a Greek-style amphitheatre, with the mountains and lake serving as a backdrop, and stage lights used to enhance the scenery. Upon its completion, the Toga Arts Festival – Japan’s first international festival of theatre – was launched. Today, the park hosts actor training workshops, in addition to theatrical productions, competitions and the Toga Asian Arts Festival, which launched in 2014.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 6Teatro Greco in Syracuse, Sicily – At 138 metres in diameter and dating back to the 5th century BC, the Greek theatre of Syracuse was one of the largest in the ancient Mediterranean world, a place where great playwrights, including Aeschylus and Sophocles, wrote and staged their tragedies. Still in use today, the Italian National Institute for Classical Drama has hosted a programme of ancient Greek dramas at the theatre since 1914. The 2024 edition took place from 10 May to 29 June and featured stagings of Ajax by Sophocles (directed by Luca Micheletti), Phaedra-Hippolytus: The Wreath Bearer (directed by Paul Curran), and Plautus’ comedy Miles Gloriosus (directed by Leo Muscato).
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 7Minack Theatre in Cornwall, UK – In the 1920s, theatre lover Rowena Cade took advantage of her plot of land on a headland in one of Cornwall’s most unique locations, and created a stunning theatre from scratch in just six months – with the help of just two local craftsmen, plus a lot of passion and elbow grease. Then still relatively simple, the theatre opened with a performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest in 1932, with stage lighting provided by car headlights. Nearly a century later, spectators can still take a seat at the theatre from late April through late September to enjoy the sparkling programme of the season.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 8Corral de Comedias de Almagro in Almagro, Spain – The Corral de Comedias de Almagro was built in 1628 by Leonardo de Oviedo in the courtyard of an old inn in central Spain. A type of “theatre courtyard” specific to Spain, corrales de comedias were popular in the 16th and 17 centuries; the one in Almagro is the best surviving example of its kind, maintaining its original structure and looking as it would have during the Spanish Golden Age. Declared a Historic Artistic Monument in 1955 – one year after being rediscovered – this particular corral is the linchpin of the International Classical Theatre Festival of Almagro.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 9Theaterspiele Glyptothek in Munich, Germany – Designed in 1830 by the architect Leo von Klenze, the Glyptothek museum forms part of a complex of beautiful neoclassical buildings on Munich’s Königsplatz, and every summer for the past 30 years, its inner courtyard has transformed into a theatrical space for stagings of ancient plays and contemporary reinterpretations. The annual Theaterspiele immerses guests in a refined atmosphere, provided with wine and small snacks, as troupes from small theatre companies take the spotlight in the glow of the setting summer sun.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 10Handa Opera in Sydney, Australia – Not a permanent theatre, but a stunning open-air theatre experience all the same. Each year since 2012, a floating stage is constructed at the feet of the Fleet Steps overlooking Sydney Harbour. With its waterfront setting and sensational views of the city skyline, it’s no wonder that listening to arias here is an unforgettable experience for tourists and locals alike. The sets are sophisticated, the costumes magnificent and the production values are off the charts – and there’s fireworks to boot. This year, Puccini’s iconic opera Tosca is taking the stage, directed by Edward Dick.
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Culture
The 11 Most Amazing Outdoor Theatres Around The World.
Slide Nr 12Arneson River Theatre at La Villita in San Antonio, USA – Designed by architect R.H.H. Hugman, this 800-seat amphitheatre sits on the banks of the picturesque San Antonio River. The artistic core of the city’s renowned River Walk, the Arneson Theatre owes its uniqueness not only to its position along the water, but also to the fact that the same waterway naturally splits the performance space into two parts, connected by a graceful stone bridge that arches over it. The theatre is the ideal setting for productions of all genres, from dance to musical or theatrical shows, such as the Fiesta Noche del Rio and Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio. [Photo: Ahren/Flickr]
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