The Minack Theatre has promised a season packed with drama, music and fun as events for 2023 now available to book - with some special offers for residents. 

Zoë Curnow, executive director of the Minack, said that with a "challenging" year ahead for everyone, the outdoor theatre in West Cornwall will be offering some special offers to local residents in2023 - as well as ensuring that for most events at least 80 tickets will be priced at only £10, or £5 for under 16s, to make it accessible to all. 

The Minack is the perfect setting for epic drama, and this summer includes plenty of it.

Fans of Cornwall’s former flagship theatre company, Kneehigh, will welcome the return of Kneehigh founder Mike Shepherd with 'Calvino Nights', a mischievous, tale of the feast, fire and fiasco, which premiered at the Minack in 2022.

Later in the year, o-Region will stage a revival of the acclaimed Kneehigh production of 'Jim Dodge’s Fup', a hilarious, heartwarming tale of a grandaddy, his grandson and an ass-kicking duck, featuring many of the original cast.

Falmouth Packet: Kneehigh founder Mike Shepherd returns with show Calvino Nights Kneehigh founder Mike Shepherd returns with show Calvino Nights (Image: Steve Tanner)

One season's highlight will be the stage adaptation of Louis de Bernière’s best-selling novel of love and war, 'Captain Corelli’s Mandolin', presented by Shattered Windscreen.

And at the other end of the scale, the season opens in March with the 'Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary', based on the iconic novel by Gustave Flaubert, lovingly derailed by John Nicholson and presented by four actors and more than a little cheeky irreverence, in a co-production by the Minack and Ha-Hum-Ah Theatre.

Shakespeare is always popular at the Minack, and this year there’s even more choice, with productions of 'Twelfth Night' by Cornish theatre company Illyria, and the complex tragi-comedy, 'Measure for Measure' presented by Moving Stories, plus two comic shows inspired by the Bard - 'Shake It Up', created by the improvised Shakespeare theatre company, and 'One Man and his Cow', Living Spit’s hilarious riff on 'King Lear', featuring a multitude of agricultural antics.

There’ll also be a new storytelling show on a Shakespearean theme for young children and families, 'The Scottish Play', opening in July.

Falmouth Packet: Production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Minack in 2022 Production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Minack in 2022 (Image: Steve Tanner)

Lovers of musical theatre will enjoy plenty of choices from classics such as 'Evita' (Helston Theatre Company) and 'The Threepenny Opera' (OVO), to West End sensation 'Everybody’s Talking About Jamie' (British Theatre Academy) and much more.

READ MORE: Flushing Panto 2023 dates: where to buy tickets

 

Zoë Curnow, executive director of the Minack, is looking forward to the coming year.

She said: “Enjoying outdoor theatre is a special part of the summer for both local people and many visitors to Cornwall.

"We’re thrilled at the season we’ve put together this year, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy.

"This year is going to be challenging for everyone including our visitors. Making live theatre affordable is important to us so most events include at least 80 tickets at £10 (£5 for those under 16s). The Minack is often seen as a great tourist attraction.

"Still, we’re also a local theatre, bringing great shows to West Cornwall, so this year we’re creating some special offers for local residents, to help more of our neighbours to enjoy the Minack on a regular basis.”

Information on future performances at the Minack and booking for most 2023 events are available now on the Minack website