Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is set to dazzle audiences once again with its newly announced 2025 season, promising to deliver a rich variety of performances ranging from musical comedies to beloved adaptations. Following the remarkable success of its 2024 season, the theatre is gearing up for its 2025 lineup under the direction of the new Artistic Director, Drew McOnie, who will be spearheading this exciting chapter.
Opening the season on May 10, 2025, will be the UK premiere of the musical comedy "Shucked," which previously enjoyed acclaim on Broadway and during its US tour. The production features talent including Ben Joyce as Beau, Sophie McShera as Maizy, and Georgina Onuorah as Lulu, showcasing their skills before the open skies of Regent's Park.
Following this vibrant opening, audiences will experience "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill" from June 19 to June 22, 2025. This unique presentation will feature award-winning choreographers—Julia Cheng, Shelley Maxwell, and Kate Prince—who will reimagine iconic ballets from classic works such as "Allegro," "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel," accompanied by arrangements from Simon Hale and live music from Sinfonia Smith Square.
The season will also include the stage adaptation of Malorie Blackman's cherished novel, "Noughts & Crosses," adapted by Dominic Cooke and directed by Tinuke Craig, scheduled for June 28 to July 26, 2025. This powerful story of love and conflict set against the backdrop of societal divides is anticipated to resonate deeply with audiences.
From August 2 to September 20, 2025, the theatre will stage Lerner & Loewe's "Brigadoon," marking the revival's first presentation at Regent's Park in over 35 years. This enchanting tale, set against the captivating Scottish Highlands, will be brought to life by acclaimed Scottish playwright Rona Munro, with Drew McOnie taking on the roles of director and choreographer. Danielle Fiamanya and Louis Gaunt will portray the leading characters, Fiona and Tommy, respectively, promising to deliver performances full of heart and charm.
For younger audiences, "The Enormous Crocodile," based on Roald Dahl's beloved book, will run from August 15 to September 7, 2025. Crafted by Suhayla El-Bushra with music by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab, this musical will be developed under the guidance of Emily Lim, highlighting the theatre's dedication to family-friendly productions.
The 2025 season will also present four Open Air Theatre Festivals, including events dedicated to family shows, dance, comedy, and culminating with a week-long music takeover presented in partnership with Communion ONE. Specific details about these festivals are expected to be revealed come spring.
Continuing its commitment to nurturing talent, the theatre has introduced The Theatre Dance Lab, aimed at supporting early-career musical theatre choreographers through paid residencies culminating in showcase performances. This initiative underlines the Regent's Park theatre's role not just as a performance venue, but as a supporter of the arts community.
Beyond the UK, the Open Air Theatre's production of "Fiddler on the Roof" will transfer to the Barbican Centre for an eight-week limited season from May 24 to July 19, 2025, after its sold-out run in 2024. Further, the re-imagined rendition of "101 Dalmatians" will have its own limited six-week engagement at London's Eventim Apollo beginning July 18, 2025.
Drew McOnie expressed his excitement about the upcoming season: “After what has without doubt been one of the most thrilling incubation periods of my creative career, I am so proud of the season we are now able to announce. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre offers its own unique opportunity to engage with stories under a shared sky, and my ambition is to honour this legacy as we move forward.”
James Pidgeon, the Executive Director, highlighted the theatre's successful previous season, which saw record-breaking audience attendance figures exceeding 180,000. He stated, “We are delighted to now be launching our 2025 season of exhilarating live performance. I am particularly thrilled to confirm our commitment to £15 tickets available throughout the season.”
The theatre’s memberships are already on sale, with priority booking for members beginning at 12 PM on the announcement day and public booking opening from February 6, 2025, at 11 AM. Fans of theatre can definitely look forward to another summer of thrilling performances at Regent's Park!