New Forest Open Air Theatre has announced plans to create its first permanent home base, launching a fundraising campaign to establish a new seasonal woodland theatre at the Hinton Admiral Estate near Burley.
Led by Artistic Director Abbey Wright and Chair of Trustees Marcel Bruneau, the project aims to create a major new cultural destination for the South of England, combining professional theatre, community participation and engagement with nature.
The proposed venue will be a 300-seat open-air theatre set within a naturally occurring woodland basin on the 5,500-acre Hinton Admiral Estate. Designed to be environmentally sensitive, the structure will be built using coppiced timber from the surrounding woodland and dismantled at the end of each performance season.
The project is supported by a number of prominent figures from the worlds of theatre and culture, including Mark Rylance, Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, Lenny Henry, Dan Snow, Geraldine Somerville and Lady Candida Meyrick.
Award-winning local architect Natalie Skeete of Forest Architecture is leading the design, working alongside theatre consultancy Charcoal Blue and designer James Turner.
The company says the long-term vision is to develop a producing house dedicated to professional outdoor theatre, while also supporting outdoor learning, wellbeing initiatives and community engagement. New Forest Open Air Theatre is already working with partners including Culture in Common to improve access to arts and cultural activities.
To help realise the project, the organisation has launched a new membership and patron scheme alongside opportunities for support from individuals, businesses, charitable trusts and foundations.
Abbey Wright, Artistic Director of New Forest Open Air Theatre, said, “This project brings together world-class theatre, community engagement and access to nature in a way that is unique to the New Forest. Our ambition is to create a venue that delivers outstanding cultural experiences while remaining accessible, sustainable and rooted in its local landscape. There is such scope for telling bold and epic stories in the woods. Imagine fairies appearing from the glade and kings riding in on horseback. But there is also a great intimacy in the cradle of the trees and it is so moving to see the figure of a human standing next to the figure of an ancient tree searching for meaning, underneath the stars.”
Marcel Bruneau, Chair of Trustees, added, “We believe this project has the potential to become a significant cultural and community asset for the region, creating opportunities for audiences, artists, young people and isolated individuals, while contributing to the visitor economy and supporting sustainable tourism in the New Forest.”
Judi Dench, Patron, said: “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?”
Lady Candida Meyrick, Patron and landowner, said: “We all need the New Forest Open Air Theatre now more than ever. To combine the power of live theatre with the restorative potential of community gathering in a woodland setting is transformational. We are so proud to be supporting this brilliant venture at the heart of the Hinton Admiral Estate.”
Founded in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, New Forest Open Air Theatre has built a loyal audience across Hampshire, Dorset and beyond through a programme of outdoor productions including Shakespeare, family theatre and seasonal events.
Details of the venue’s inaugural programme will be announced at a later date.
More information can be found here.
