July 31 2025
Cornwall is home to a rich array of open-air venues, each with its own story, setting, and community spirit. Miracle Theatre tours to some extraordinary outdoor theatres that reflect Cornwall’s deep connection to landscape, culture, and creativity.
Miracle Theatre’s interest in Cornwall’s performance heritage began in 1979, when the company staged its first production – The Beginning of the World, an adaptation of the first part of the Ordinalia, the medieval Cornish miracle plays – in Perran Round, one of the best-preserved Plen-an-Gwary sites in Cornwall. These circular “playing places” were originally built in medieval times to host the miracle plays – dramatic stories from the Bible performed in the Cornish language. These were community events, filled with music and drama, that brought people together. Beginning our journey in such a setting not only inspired the Miracle’s name but helped shape its identity and long-standing interest in telling stories outdoors, in places with deep local significance.
That connection continues today. In St Just, the Plen-an-Gwarry is one of the oldest surviving examples of this kind of space and still plays an important role in the area’s cultural life. This summer, Miracle returned with Twelfth Night, continuing the tradition of open-air theatre in this historic venue. While Cornwall has a long history of outdoor performance, several more recent venues have become key fixtures in the county’s creative landscape—each with a strong connection to Miracle Theatre.
We often begin our summer tours at the iconic Minack Theatre, perched high above the Atlantic at Porthcurno. Built into the cliffs in the 1930s by Rowena Cade, who carved the first terraces by hand with the help of her gardener, the Minack has grown into one of the most spectacular theatres in the UK. Performing here is always a special experience, and it set a fittingly dramatic tone for the summer ahead.
Carn Marth Amphitheatre, near Redruth, was once a working granite quarry. In the 1980s, when quarrying was due to resume, local residents came together to form the Carn Marth Trust, transforming the site into a grassroots venue for open-air performance. Miracle has performed here for many years, bringing stories to life in a setting that blends natural drama with community spirit.
Nestled in a sub-tropical valley near the Helford River, Trebah Garden Amphitheatre opened in 2014. Inspired by Cornwall’s “preaching pits,” the venue offers a uniquely lush and intimate environment for performance, surrounded by exotic plants and sweeping views. Miracle had the honour of launching the amphitheatre with The Tempest, and we’ve returned regularly ever since.
High on Bodmin Moor, STERTS Arts Centre also began in the 1980s, on the site of a former pig farm. It has grown into a well-loved arts venue, with a distinctive canopy and a year-round programme. Miracle has toured there since the 1990s, and recent investment has further improved accessibility—making Sterts one of the most inclusive outdoor theatres in Cornwall today.
Each of these venues carries its own legacy and atmosphere, but all share a deep-rooted commitment to storytelling and place-based performance. Miracle Theatre is proud to work with them—and to celebrate the creativity that flourishes across Cornwall’s cultural landscape.
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