Performing arts
On weekend theatre breaks, take a cushion and a bottle of something sparkly and enjoy an al-fresco evening in the company of world-class opera singers, Shakespearean actors or lithesome ballet dancers. Often, the setting will be as stunning as the performances. Make the most of theatre breaks by taking in a show of every type, from dramas to musicals to children’s plays. And theatre trips don’t need to be restricted to the city. Smaller towns and villages host touring arts companies and stage regular music and performing arts festivals of their own.
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Murder Mystery Weekend
Elaborate plots, professional actors and the chance to play detective.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Alfresco Shakespeare in Eastbourne’s pretty Italian Gardens
Discover one of the South Coast’s best kept secrets, with hidden gardens, secluded walkways, outdoor Shakespeare and rock pooling.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
See a play under the stars
Experience theatre performed in the open air, amid the beautiful, green surroundings of Regent's Park.
Location: Regent's Park, Greater London
Take a trip to the theatre in Worthing
Worthing’s four distinctive venues bring an ever changing combination of nostalgic and cutting edge theatre.
Location: Worthing, West Sussex
Take the cultural quarter trail in Leicester
Absorb yourself in rich performances and visual arts in Leicester’s cultural quarter and enjoy architectural splendour and fine dining.
Location: Leicester, Leicestershire
May events: The Norfolk & Norwich Festival
Norwich becomes a hotbed of international art and performance every May.
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Rainy Day Activities: Catch a show at award-winning kids’ theatre, the egg
Looking for something to do when it rains that'll keep the kids entertained and adults smiling? Try a show or creative workshop at the egg.
Location: Bath, Somerset
Re-live the Good Old Days at the City Varieties Music Hall
The Good Old Days are back with a little help from the country’s top-performing acts.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Take in a play during Shakespeare season in Newcastle
Every autumn the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) heads north to Newcastle’s Theatre Royal for their annual season.
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Experience life the Shakespearian way
Visit the historic attractions of Shakespeare’s England and see the places that played a role in the playwright’s life.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Enjoy a romantic escape in Shakespeare’s England
Shakespeare’s England, home to Romeo and Juliet - the greatest love story of all time, is the perfect place for a romantic escape.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Explore Brighton's Cultural Quarter
Find an exotic Royal palace, classical concerts, West End shows and fine art all within a moment’s walk of each other.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
See open-air Shakespeare plays in Lincolnshire
If your only experience of Shakespeare is being bored rigid in a school classroom, then it’s about time you gave the great Bard another chance.
Location: Stamford, Lincolnshire
October events: Laugh out loud at Birmingham Comedy Festival
Watch stand-up performances from some of the world’s top comedians, then learn the tricks of the trade for yourself.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
Watch Indie A-listers at the End of the Road Festival
The intimate surroundings of the End of the Road Festival give you the chance to get up close and personal with the bands and their music.
Location: Larmer Tree Gardens, North Dorset
See an open-air play at the Minack Theatre
Carved into a granite cliff face on the southern tip of Cornwall, the Minack Theatre is a wonderfully unique theatrical experience.
Location: Porthcurno, Cornwall
Enjoy a show at the Bristol Hippodrome
Steeped in history and packed with West End tours and local community displays, the Bristol Hippodrome is ideal for theatre buffs and newbies alike.
Location: Bristol
Paint the town red with a London hotel and theatre break
Take in the bright lights of London’s prestigious West End and its many fantastic musicals on a short break in the capital.
Location: London
Enjoy dinner and a show at Kilworth House Hotel & Theatre
Not many luxurious English hotels come complete with their own open-air theatre, but Kilworth House has always been a little bit special.
Location: Kilworth, Leicestershire
Experience an on-stage extravaganza at the Birmingham Hippodrome
Plan a theatre trip to Birmingham and enjoy classic performances by the famous Birmingham Royal Ballet, comedy, drama, opera and fun-filled musicals.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
Explore Brighton and Hove’s wartime heritage
Commemorate the First World War with a cultural holiday in Brighton and Hove, roaming around the city’s lively cultural quarter.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
