Summer Theatre Guide

With the backdrop of the striking St Edmundsbury Cathedral and the Abbey Ruins, the Abbey Gardens make a fantastic outdoor theatre space, steeped in history and full of fragrant flowers and shrubs. The Theatre in the Parks programme invites you to ready your picnic hampers and fold up chairs and head down to enjoy a jam-packed programme of performances.

Quantum Theatre bring their new adaption of the Kenneth Grahame classic Wind in the Willows to the Abbey Gardens this August; join Mole, Ratty and Badger on their madcap adventures in this heartwarming tale of friendship, mishap and mayhem. This performance takes place in the Eastgate nursery, next to the tennis courts. There are two performances on Thursday 31st August at 12pm and 3.30pm - You won’t want to miss it!

Picnic hampers and fold-up chairs at the ready as this year's outdoor theatre returns!

A truly unique location to enjoy an outdoor theatre performance, West Stow is home to one of England’s greatest archaeological sites and hosts their theatre programme right in the middle of the Anglo-Saxon village. With the backdrop of the striking St Edmundsbury Cathedral and the Abbey Ruins, the Abbey Gardens make a fantastic outdoor theatre space, steeped in history and full of fragrant flowers and shrubs. The Theatre in the Parks programme invites you to ready your picnic hampers and fold up chairs and head down to enjoy a jam-packed programme of performances.

In July, make your way to West Stow for some family fun with a heart-warming and funny performance of the popular book Bad Dad by David Walliams. Join Frank and Gilbert as they navigate their way through car chases and convicts in the struggle to escape the clutches of the local crime lord and clear Gilbert’s name. Taking place in the Abbey Gardens on 15 & 16 August at 2pm.

Quantum Theatre bring their new adaption of the Kenneth Grahame classic Wind in the Willows to the Abbey Gardens this August; join Mole, Ratty and Badger on their madcap adventures in this heartwarming tale of friendship, mishap and mayhem. Taking place on Friday 4 August at 2pm and 5pm at West Stow and in the Abbey Gardens in the Eastgate nursery, next to the tennis courts on Thursday 31st August at 12pm and 3.30pm - You won’t want to miss it!

If you enjoy your Shakespeare with a wry smile then you’re sure to relish MacHamLear; a farcical piece of new writing from award-winning playwright Michael Davies. This production invites audiences to take part in a unique experiment to answer the age-old question: which play is the best the bard has to offer? The performance takes on 9 August at 6pm at West Stow and is then on again in the Abbey Gardens on 22 August at 6pm.

Heartbreak productions invite you to don your regency finery and settle down for a literary classic with a twist as they present Jane Austen’s biting social satire Sense and Sensibility on 10 August at 6pm, don’t forget to bring chairs or blankets and something to sip!

The Theatre Royal has a fantastic line-up throughout the summer, from magic, comedy and musicals to drama and farce.

After a rare and inexplicable cyclone hits Suffolk (Stowmarket to be precise), Dorothy and her dog Toto find themselves transported to the mysterious land of Oz. Following the success of last year’s The Secret Garden, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds' summer production returns with this classic tale retold by professional actors and members of our local community aged 8-80! The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which runs from August 18 to September 2, is a play with songs, featuring new music by David Lewington and choreography by Sunny Saini so you can expect dancing, singing, and all your favourite characters!

On 22nd and 23rd September, detectives everywhere are urgently required at the Theatre Royal to unravel an entirely original mystery as it unfolds in front of their very eyes. Masters of improvisation, Degrees of Error take audience suggestions and weave together a Agatha Christie inspired comic masterpiece Murder, She Didn’t Write with no show the same as the night before. Was it Mr Crimson poisoned in the parlour? Ms Gold exploded by cannon in Sainsbury’s, you decide. But will you work out the killer in time?

You can always rely on The Apex for a packed and eclectic Summer programme. This year there’s music, history and comedy- something for everyone!

On 29 July eight-piece tribute The Sound Of Springsteen bring their passion for the work of 'The Boss' and combine it with years of live performances to rock you with Bruce Springsteen's greatest hits and deep cuts. With songs including 'Born in the USA', 'Glory Days', 'Streets of Philadelphia' and many more, this is a night of passion for Springsteen fans.