Open-air London: enjoy theatre, cinema and music in the great outdoors

Why hole up in a cinema, theatre or music venue when it's sunny or balmy outside? There are plenty of ways to enjoy the cultural pursuits you love in the open air
Sky high: Rooftop Film Club
Emily Jupp12 May 2014

Film

Rooftop Film Club is gearing up for a season of films during the warmer months at Queen of Hoxton in Shoreditch and the Bussey Building in Peckham. Watch recent releases, cult classics and old favourites under the stars. (rooftopfilmclub.com, from Thu May 1).

The Luna Cinema (thelunacinema.com, from Fri Jun 20) kicks off its summer season with screenings of The Goonies and Dirty Dancing at Crystal Palace Park, before embarking on a tour of London’s green spaces and historic houses.

The Nomad (whereisthenomad.com, from Sat Jun 21) has been popping up at indoor venues intermittently throughout the autumn and winter, but will be returning to the open-air circuit in June, with screenings planned at parks, squares and secret gardens across town.

Hot Tub Cinema isn't up and running just yet but will be bubbling away merrily when summer is in full swing, check the website for updates (hottubcinema.com).

Over the late May bank holiday, the Jewish Community Centre London is airing some old classics, all of which have Jewish directors, so there’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, directed by Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen’s Annie Hall and O Brother Where Art Thou? by the Coen Brothers (jw3.org.uk, May 25-27).

Screening under the stars: The Nomad Cinema

Theatre

Bill Shakespeare would be 450 this year if he was still alive and kicking, but despite the Bard's demise, his words live on. Without him we wouldn't have have such evocative expressions as 'the green-eyed monster', 'love is blind' or ‘the world is your oyster’. Celebrate one of the greatest writers the world has ever seen and see his plays as they were originally intended at Shakespeare’s Globe, which is staging performances of Titus Andronicus, Anthony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar under sun, stars and occasionally, rain, as well as putting on a series of talks and special events at the brand new (indoor) Sam Wanamaker playhouse (shakespearesglobe.com, until Sat Oct 11).

Elsewhere, in Regents Park, the open-air theatre season’s kicking off with Arthur Miller’s 20th Century classic All My Sons, directed by Timothy Sheader. It’s a criticism of the American Dream, set in the Second World War and involving themes of denial, guilt and social responsibility (openairtheatre.com, from Thu May 15).

The Theatre in the Square project by the Lyric Hammersmith, brings free theatre to the open air. It kicks off on Tuesday May 27 with The Beasts, by theatre group Bucket Club (lyric.co.uk). The Royal Society of Beastologists is on the hunt for a fearsome, never-before-seen beast and you’re invited to join them.

Midsummer nights: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
© DavidJensen 2011

Music

Field Day in Victoria Park always heralds the beginning of the music festival season in London. This year it expands to a two-day event with Metronomy and Pixies as the headline acts, with support from Charlotte OC, Erol Alkan and The Horrors. Tickets are on sale now (fielddayfestivals.com, Jun 7-8).

Summertime music isn't just about roaming a field in your wellies with a warm cider in your hand, though. Somerset House encourages a more civilised approach: cider is chilled and served in proper glasses, chips come with truffle oil as standard. Tickets for the open air Summer Series, which includes gigs from Kelis and Agnes Noble (somersethouse.org, July 10-20), are now on sale and selling out fast.

Aside from the aforementioned film screenings, the Queen of Hoxton is well-known for its rooftop day parties, previous events have included a hula-hooping festival, a jerk chicken barbecue day and an Ibiza-themed event, all soundtracked by top DJs (queenofhoxton.com).

Summer sounds: Somerset House on a gig night

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