Suffolk’s new venue Thorington Theatre gears up for its opening next month

Opening in June 2021, the beautiful Suffolk woodlands are now home to a brand new outdoor theatre space, Thorington Theatre.

The 350-seat wooden theatre is built in a natural amphitheatre - a bomb crater from WWII. It has been constructed in the most sustainable way possible, with the timber sourced from Thorington's woods by sensitively coppicing local chestnut trees. Working in harmony with the seating and stage area, the structure wraps around the trees ensuring no trees have been cleared from the site itself.

This summer, the venue will host 40 shows with something for everyone – from Shakespearian classics to The Wind in the Willows, and operas to stand-up comedy. The theatre aims to be as eclectic and inclusive as possible.

The theatre bar will serve the finest local beers, wines, juices and ice creams, and there is a picnic area too. Doors open 45 minutes before the show. The audience is invited to arrive early, bring a picnic (though no alcohol), enjoy some of the finest local refreshments from the theatre bar, and soak up Mother Nature in this magical woodland setting.

Founder Lindy O’Hare said: “We have constructed this venue on our farm and what started as a small idea has grown into a major venture. This project has taken off so successfully partly due to covid which has made the demands for outdoor space more attractive and secondly due to the inspirational people working on the project.

“Our summer season is jammed-packed with a wide variety of productions from local and national theatre companies: stories, opera, comedy and Shakespeare for the enjoyment of everybody. There is something for all and we look forward to welcoming you back to the theatre.”

For more information and to view the full theatre programme, please click here.