Setting the Scene: 6 Open Air Theaters Fit For Shakespeare

As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, outdoor arts festivals are popping up everywhere. For fans of theater, cinema, and live music, open-air theaters and concert venues create new performance spaces for the public to enjoy.

When architects take performances outside the confines of traditional venues, the surrounding environment becomes part of the performance itself. This new dynamic presents a host of creative possibilities for both the performers and the designers of the space. What if a live play moved from one location in a park to another, physically taking the audience along with them? Or movie screen floated down a canal? What about a mobile structure that could travel from city to city?

From city parks to rooftops to riverbanks, take a look at the variety of outdoor performance spaces around the world. Some architects have drawn inspiration from classical amphitheater structures, while others have conceived of a more abstract, minimalist setup. All of these architects, however, take on the role of set designer: they create structures that enhance performances and never distract from the story.

Jubilee Pavilion by J. MAYER H., Karlsruhe, Germany

This past Saturday, June 20, saw the opening of the Pavilion for the City Jubilee KA300 in the southwestern German city, which is celebrating its 300th anniversary with a series of concerts, theatre performances, readings, film screenings, and exhibitions. The structure itself alludes to the radial layout of the city; constructed on-site with locally sourced wood in Karlruhe’s Schlossgarten, the structure will be dismantled for reuse in September.

No99 Straw Theater by SALTO, Tallinn, Estonia

Built in celebration of Tallinn’s title as a European Capital of Culture in 2011, the No99 Straw Theater is a temporary structure. Made of straw spray-painted black, the theater features a patterned, angular roof and wide outdoor performance space.

Open Air Theatre by Haworth Tompkins, London, England

Hidden amongst the trees in Regent’s Park, the Open Air Theatre is designed to reflect the surrounding greenery. Made entirely from natural timber, the wooden amphitheater is built to be as light as possible in order to preserve the existing tree roots. Tall trees behind the stage become part of the set design and create a boundary between the space of the theater and the surrounding public park.

Summer Theater by Kadarik Tuur Arhitekid, Tallin, Estonia

The Summer Theater in Tallinn, Estonia, frames the nearby landscape in a way that the nearby pond, trees, and park become part of the stage. The timber walls are easy to dismantle and arrange in new configurations for each play. The theater’s elegant, abstract design successfully blurs the distinction between the world of the theater and the surrounding park.

Mobile Performance Venue by Various Architects

The largest mobile performance venue in the world, this project from Oslo-based firm Various Architects travels from city to city. Designed for easy transport, the theater can be assembled in just two weeks and packed into 30 containers!

Floating Cinema by vPPR Architects, London, England

The architects behind London’s (speculative) Floating Cinema have reimagined the movie-going experience. Their ‘Cinescope’ is wrapped in mirror film that creates cinematic reflections of the canal. The collapsible material allows the structure to fit under bridges and creates a brilliant “ah-ha” moment for audiences when the screen is revealed. Combined with the view of the London cityscape in the background, who could go back to an ordinary movie theater after experiencing the Floating Cinema?