Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

Who we are

Established in 1932, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of the largest theatres in London. Situated in the beautiful surroundings of a Royal Park, both its stage and auditorium are entirely uncovered. Over 140,000 people visit the theatre each year during the 19‐week season. The outdoor setting coupled with the scale, audacity and ambition of our productions makes us unique in the cultural landscape of London and the UK.

We have a reputation for creating first class award‐winning theatre specifically for and in our distinctive setting, working both with theatre professionals at the top of their game and nurturing the development of emerging artists. Each summer, a notably broad and diverse local audience experience a creative and imaginative programme of large scale plays and musicals in our inimitable venue which challenge, delight, inform, inspire and entertain. Completing an unprecedented theatre experience, our in‐house bar and catering operation includes The Grill, alfresco waiter‐serviced dining and picnics.

Timothy Sheader and William Village were appointed Joint Chief Executives in 2007. During their tenure, the theatre has won 14 major awards, including the Olivier and the London Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical Revival six times. In 2017, we were crowned London Theatre of the Year by The Stage. At the same time, a whole new audience has been found with a strong emphasis on accessible ticket prices and concessions, the introduction of the BREEZE ticketing scheme for 18‐25 year‐olds, a 341% increase in the number of Friends and a 63% increase in our geographical reach well beyond London. Each year, on average, we subsidise tickets for 6,000 school children to watch a production, with opportunities to continue their learning with our education packs.

Our determination to extend the work of the theatre beyond Regent’s Park has seen our productions of Pride and Prejudice, Lord of the Flies, Running Wild (in a co‐production with Chichester Festival Theatre) and To Kill a Mockingbird tour the UK and Ireland, the latter subsequently transferring to the Barbican. Crazy For You transferred to the West End, Into the Woods transferred to the Delacorte Theatre, Central Park, New York and Jesus Chris Superstar played the Barbican in summer 2019 before starting to tour the US in the autumn following its run at the Lyric Opera, Chicago, earlier in 2018.

With a small core team of 14 permanent members of staff, the theatre employs over 200 seasonal
personnel (including the acting companies) with many staff returning each year. There are  approximately 150 performances each season including matinees and some morning performances as well as Sunday performances. The company is a registered charity which receives no public subsidy and its work is funded entirely by its operating activities.