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If there’s one thing that London isn’t short of, it’s a fabulous theatre or ten. But on a hot summer’s night, the last place you want to be is cooped up inside. Even with interval ice cream. So I’m on the hunt for exciting outdoor theatre, so I can sit outside on a picnic blanket and spend two hours crossing my fingers that it doesn’t rain.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

This is probably the most popular of the open air theatres. With good reason. The productions are always top class (often traditional, expect a lot of Shakespeare as this is the home of the New Shakespeare Company) and the venue is really rather special. And, there’s some darn good pubs in the area too, which makes post theatre plans even easier. This summer, there’s The Crucible, Comedy of Errors and Macbeth playing. They do comedy throughout summer well – always well worth a look. But make sure you book in advance, this place gets busy and you won’t just be able to rock up on the night.

The Scoop

The Scoop is a fab little venue that really comes alive in Summer. In the morning you can be doing an Tai Chi lesson, and in the evening, you can be watching a jazz band. The events are free (but on a first come first served basis) and perhaps more excitingly, there’s free films. The film season at the school is fantastic. I’ve never seen Pretty Woman on the big screen. On Southbank. Outside. With a picnic. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

The Globe

This is more like an indoor/outdoor venue (a bit like Wimbledon‘s centre court). But, there’s no roof, so it’s outside in my book. Besides, of all the places you want to see Shakespeare just once, wouldn’t you want to do it here? They’re showing Macbeth too (it’s a popular one) but also Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII – two plays running alongside each other, which look set to be interesting.

St Pauls Church

Affectionately known as the ‘Actors Church’, St Pauls in Covent Garden is a great little spot for some fringe theatre. It’s still a church (and a mighty pretty one at that) but as well as going to Sunday Mass, you can also go and see Romeo & Juliet. I’m hoping that the stage moves and you get to run around the church watching the action unfold, but even if that’s not the case, this has to be one of the most unusual theatre venues in London.

Speakers’ Corner

OK, so this isn’t exactly theatre, but boy it’s a lot of fun. And it is entertainment in it’s own way. Go along, get on your soap box, or just watch whilst people have their say about anything. Yep. Anything. Every Sunday, on the corner of Hyde Park people stand having the (often shouty) say about the world. You can join them if you like. But if you do that, you’ve got more guts than me.

Know of a cool outdoor venue I’ve missed? Tell me in the comments! I’d very much like to visit them all this summer.

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