Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Reopens 

 We know how popular the multi-award-winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is with people that work, live and visit the Quarter, so we are delighted that they are the first major theatre to announce a return to live performance. 

The stage is set for the unique venue to welcome back audiences with Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert, with booking now open for 70 live performances in August and September. 

The concert is a special staging of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s  hit show and features a legendary score including: ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’, ‘Heaven on their Minds’ and ‘Superstar’. 

With the government’s announcement that outdoor theatres can reopen, the venue has been working tirelessly to find a way to resume performances in its glorious surroundings. 

William Village, the theatre’s executive director, said: “Following the government’s announcement, we have been working around the clock to find a way to open in August and September this year. With social distancing, seating capacity has been dramatically reduced to 390 seats (down from 1,256). This makes producing any large-scale show economically extremely challenging, particularly as we are an unfunded organisation.  

“Nevertheless, both for us as a venue, and the industry as a whole, we believe it is incumbent upon us to do everything possible to re-open this year.” 

Extra safety measures will be in place including distanced performers, enhanced cleaning, one-way systems, mandatory face coverings, temperature checks, paperless and cashless systems and multiple hand sanitiser stations. 

Timothy Sheader, Artistic Director, said: “Whilst the arts sector awaits details of how the government’s support package will be disseminated, I’m heartened that we have been able to start work again with a number of our colleagues and to employ over 140 people including 70 performers and freelancers, at least for a brief period this summer.” 

Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert runs from August 14 to September 27. Tickets are available here. Evening performances on Tuesdays to Sundays will start at 19.30pm, with matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 15.00. The venue will be open one hour before the concert. The running time is 90 minutes with no interval. 

The theatre is also hosting a range of other performances during this period. Booking is also open for MOREoutdoor Mondays, a comedy club with performers including Rob Beckett, Suzi Ruffell, Jimmy Carr, Russell Kane and Russell Brand. Plus, Mischief Theatre, the brains behind The Play That Goes Wrong, is staging an improvised Mischief Movie Night, while Berk’s Nest presents Canned Laughter, an all-star comedy fundraiser for London’s food banks. 

The theatre also has some exciting shows scheduled for 2021, postponed from this summer. These include a musical version of 101 Dalmations, Romeo & Juliet, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, and spellbinding adventure Dragons And Mythical Beasts. 

For full details and to book, visit http://openairtheatre.com or call 0333 400 3562. Even if your not returning to the area until September you can support them by booking a seat in advance of your return.