June 29 2026

Outdoor Theatre: What to Expect and What to Bring

One of the joys of outdoor theatre is that every performance is a little different. One evening you might be watching the sunset as the story unfolds, the next you could be reaching for your waterproofs halfway through Act One. That’s all part of the fun.

If you’re joining us for Peer Gynt this summer, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your evening.

Pack a chair or blanket

Most of our venues don’t provide seating, so bring a low backed chair or picnic blanket to settle in for the performance.

Bring a picnic

Many of our audience members make an evening of it by arriving early with a picnic. Some venues have food and drink available to buy, while others encourage you to bring your own. Check your venue information before you travel.

Dress for the Cornish weather

It may be warm when you leave home, but evenings can cool down quickly. A warm jumper or blanket is always a good idea. And because this is Cornwall, a waterproof never goes amiss.

Sun cream… and waterproofs

It sounds contradictory, but both often make an appearance on the same day. Sunglasses, a hat and sun cream are just as useful as a waterproof jacket tucked into your bag.

Bring a torch

A small torch can be really useful when finding your way back to the car after the show, especially at venues with uneven paths.

Don’t forget the essentials

Tickets, a bottle of water and, if you’re planning on buying programmes or refreshments, it’s always worth carrying a little cash as some of our more rural venues can have patchy phone signal.

We asked our audience…

We put the question out on social media: What do you always bring to outdoor theatre?

There were plenty of practical suggestions:

“A waterproof blanket which doesn’t rustle is great for keeping your knees dry during downpours.”

“An umbrella for before the performance, waterproofs, suncream, sunglasses, a hot water bottle and plenty of water.”

Others had slightly different priorities…

“Homemade Scotch eggs.”

And perhaps our favourite response of all:

“Pasties, obviously.”

Peer Gynt lasts around two hours, including a 20 minute interval, so once you’ve packed your chair, layered up and remembered the snacks, all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy the adventure.