The Questors Theatre in Ealing, is offering help to amateur theatres who want to start performing in the open air.

LTG Chairman Jo Matthews, from The Questors, notes that with the looming possibility of performing in an outdoor setting, many are puzzling over how to organise such an event; from start to finish it will be a different animal to indoors. Several members achieved it as a pilot last year, and at The Questors we’re seeking to gather up that experience and use it as a template to help  LTG Members and amateur theatres to make it happen. It could be on their own premises, or a local park or other local amenity.

The Zoom conference – The Questors have organised a free Zoom conference on

 Sunday 11th April at 4.00pm 

This will bring together an impressive line-up of speakers from both the professional and amateur world.

‘We know that theatres are all keen to get back to performing as soon as possible,’ said Alex Marker, The Questors Theatre’s Artistic Director. ‘Playing in the open air provides a great first step and one that will prove popular with our audiences.’

The conference will provide everything you need to know about how to deliver an open-air theatrical performance. This could include how to run a half hour children’s show in a park, organise some live street theatre or put on a full-scale production.

Speakers include Zoe Curnow, the Executive Director of the Minack Theatre Cornwall, Matt Noddings, a freelance Production Manager who spent a season at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, as well as representatives from The Progress Theatre Reading, Richmond Shakespeare Society and Putney Arts.

Between them they have extensive experience of making theatre work for audiences outdoors. Most importantly we will also have a local authority representative who can advise on licensing, health and safety and local by-laws.

Book your conference place by e-mailing our Zoom host janeaf@btinternet.com. Questions to the panel can also be sent, in advance, to the same address.

‘We all know how keen people are to enjoy live theatre again,’ said Alex Marker. ‘This is a time to be creative and work together to build the future for our local theatres and their audiences.’

Anne Gilmour