Castles, gardens and even an animal park are presenting outdoor theatre this summer.
Here's our round-up of some of the county's open air productions.

CHANGELING THEATRE

From deck chairs on the beach to sipping champagne in a walled garden, the Changeling Theatre know how to pick their spots for their summer tour.

Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, the Maidstone company will take their open air production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet to more than 30 settings across the country from Friday, June 30 throughout the summer.

Always guaranteed to reinvigorate a classic text, the company put an emphasis on nurturing young talent and will have a young cast, including Alex Phelps as Hamlet and new apprentice, 19-year-old Cary Ryan from Chartham.

One of Shakespeare’s best known and loved tragedies, Hamlet explores the themes of mortality, loyalty and justice and it is Hamlet’s difficult and complex relationships that beat at the heart of Changeling’s production.

Artistic director Rob Forknall said: “We needed a very special play to mark our 20th birthday.

“Never out of season, Hamlet is a remarkable story of grief and revenge and the complexity and frailty of human relationships. It’s a brilliant, relevant play for modern times.”

Hamlet opens on Friday, June 30 at Boughton Monchelsea Place, near Maidstone and runs in Kent until Sunday, August 13. There will be a final performance at Pembroke Castle in Wales on Wednesday, August 30.

Venues include Belmont House and Gardens, near Faversham on Friday, July 7, Margate Main Sands on Saturday, July 8 and the Tithe Barn, Lenham on Sunday, July 9.

It then heads to Dover Castle for the Deal Festival on Tuesday, July 11, Great Comp Garden, St Mary’s Platt, on Thursday, July 13 and Folkestone Amphitheatre on Sunday, July 16.

It will be heading to several castles, including Upnor Castle on Tuesday, July 18, Westenhanger Castle on Thursday, July 20, Allington Castle on Saturday, July 22, Tonbridge Castle on Saturday, July 29 and Leeds Castle on Saturday, August 5.

Other venues include Dartford Central Park on Tuesday, August 1 and Biddenden Vineyards on Sunday, August 6. For dates, venues and tickets visit changeling-theatre.com.

CHAPTERHOUSE THEATRE

Four productions The Chapterhouse Theatre Company have been stepping onto outdoor stages in picturesque places across the country since 1999.

The company will bring four productions to the county over the summer from Wednesday, August 9 to Saturday, September 2.

The productions are Pride and Prejudice, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Pride and Prejudice will be staged at Leeds Castle on Saturday, September 2 at 7.30pm, and at Rochester Castle on Wednesday, August 30. Peter Pan will be at Upnor Castle on Thursday, August 31, Ightham Mote on Saturday, September 2, and Hall Place and Gardens on Wednesday, August 30.

And The Wind in the Willows will come to the open air stage at Belmont House and Gardens, near Faversham on Sunday, August 27, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream being staged at Port Lympne Reserve on Wednesday, August 9.

To book and for more details go to chapterhouse.org.

NATIONAL TRUST

Emmetts Garden at Ide Hill, Sevenoaks will play host to Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors on Thursday, August 17, from 6.30pm for picnics, with the performance at 7.30pm. The show is presented by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men and is packed with slapstick humour and mistaken identity. Tickets are £16, with children between eight and 16 costing £9.

Join Ratty and friends as they embark on an adventure to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels with Wind in the Willows on Thursday, August 31.

The family-friendly production by Immersion Theatre allows for picnics on the lawn from 3pm, with the performance from 4pm to 7pm. Tickets are £12, £7 for children over two and families from £26. To book go to nationaltrust.org.uk/emmetts-garden

Tenterden’s Smallhythe Place gets a dose of Lewis Carroll’s poetic characters in The Walrus and the Carpenter on Bank Holiday Monday, August 28, at 4pm until 5.30pm and again at 6pm to 7pm. The puppet show will be held in the garden, with picnics welcome.

There is an optional pre-show workshop for children to make hats and oysters to add to the story. Tickets are £8.50, and £10 for children, including the workshop or £7 for the show only.
To book visit nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhythe-place.

HEVER FESTIVAL

Hever Festival brings live music, cinema and stage productions to heavenly Hever Castle over the summer.

July and August highlights include new productions of Gilbert and Sullivan favourites HMS Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance, a new production of the rip-roaring Nell Gwynn, and The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

For tickets and a full programme, go to heverfestival.co.uk or call the box office during normal office hours on 01732 866114.