New Forest Open Air Theatre

A Woodland Theatre for Everyone - Our new home in Hinton Admiral coming in 2027

I am so happy to be a patron of the beautiful New Forest Open Air Theatre... There is nowhere like it. A glorious mix of theatre and trees; what could be better?

In Elizabethan London, when theatres closed during outbreaks of plague, Shakespeare's company took their plays into the countryside. In the summer of 2020, after months of Covid isolation and with theatres once again silent, we followed their example. We assembled a company of actors, borrowed costumes and equipment from closed theatres, and staged two Shakespeare productions beneath the trees of the New Forest.

What began as an emergency response became something far more significant. After months of separation, people gathered again to laugh, cry and share stories under open skies. We saw first-hand the power of live performance to bring people together, and the restorative effect of spending time in nature.

Those productions inspired a simple but ambitious vision: to create a permanent open-air theatre in the heart of the New Forest.

For six years we have performed in the region while searching for a home. Now, we have finally found it near Burley, within the 5,500 acre Hinton Admiral Estate.

What We're Creating

Our vision is a unique woodland theatre where audiences can experience exceptional performance surrounded by nature, in Hinton Admiral.

The theatre will:

Seat up to 300 people
Use locally sourced coppiced timber
Take inspiration from ancient amphitheatres
Be designed in harmony with the landscape
Be dismantled each season to minimise environmental impact

Hidden among the trees, it will offer an unforgettable setting for theatre, music, storytelling and community events.

The Location

Google Maps

Help Bring the Vision to Life

New Forest Open Air Theatre will be more than a venue. It will be a place where people gather beneath the trees to experience exceptional performance, connect with one another and create lasting memories.

With £750,000 still to raise, we are seeking individuals, trusts, foundations and businesses who share our belief in the power of culture, community and nature.

We need shared experiences and connection with nature more than ever. After six years of creating theatre outdoors, we now have a rare opportunity: to establish a permanent home where performance, nature and community come together.

Join our patrons: Dame Judi Dench · Sir Mark Rylance · Sir Derek Jacobi · Geraldine Somerville · Dan Snow · Lady Candida Meyrick.

Become a Founding Supporter and play a part in this story from the beginning.

Supporter Levels

ACORNS

Friend of the Forest

Be part of the founding community and help plant the first roots.

Includes:

Behind-the-scenes updates
Priority booking

Founding Friend

A meaningful way to support the project from the very beginning.

Includes all Friend of the Forest benefits, plus:

Recognition as a Founding Friend
Entry into dress rehearsal ticket lottery

Founding Friend Circle

Step closer to the work and deepen your support.

Includes all Founding Friend benefits, plus:

Invitations to selected previews (subject to availability)
Opportunities to meet the creative team

OAKS

Founding Patron

Become part of a close circle giving vital help to bring the theatre to life, and be part of the journey with us.

Includes all Founding Friend Circle benefits, plus opportunities such as:

Site visit during development
Name in the inaugural programme
Invitations to rehearsals, previews and opening celebrations
Exclusive events with the Artistic Director, creatives and guest artists
Enhanced recognition on site
Regular insider updates from the artistic team

Principal Founders (bespoke)

We are seeking a small number of exceptional individuals and organisations to help bring this theatre into being.

This is not a level of support, but a partnership.

With £650,000 still to raise, a small group of visionary supporters will play a defining role in shaping the New Forest Open Air Theatre. Gifts of £10,000–£200,000 will influence what this place becomes, from its earliest days to its long future.

As a Principal Founder, your relationship with the theatre will be personal and enduring. You will be part of a close inner circle — connected to the thinking, the making, and the people behind it, with direct access to the Artistic Director and creative team.

You will also have the chance to meet our distinguished patrons and ambassadors.

You will spend time with us in the woods as the theatre takes shape, experiencing the work as it is created and sharing in key moments along the way.

Your support will leave a permanent mark — not only on the theatre itself, but on the generations it will inspire.

This is an opportunity to help create something that will outlast us all: a place where story, nature and community meet.

We would be delighted to speak with you personally.

Marcel Bruneau

Chair of Trustees, New Forest Open Air Theatre Arts Ltd

Download Our Project Brochure

Our Impact

We believe culture and nature should be accessible to everyone.

New Forest Open Air Theatre will:

Bring high-quality arts to local communities
Create opportunities for young people
Support wellbeing through shared experiences in nature
Provide learning, training and volunteering opportunities
Support local artists and businesses
Encourage sustainable cultural tourism

Alongside professional productions, the theatre will host community performances, outdoor learning programmes, workshops, family events and seasonal celebrations.

Our aim is simple: to create a place where people can connect—with stories, with nature and with one another.