Regent's Park Open Air Theatre tweaks performance times in response to climate change

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has altered some performance times in its upcoming season in what it calls "a response to the impacts of climate change". 

Midweek and Saturday matinee performances during June and July of two newly programmed shows will move from the theatre’s customary 2pm start to an earlier start time of 12.30pm. 

"The theatre’s hope is that this trial will help reduce exposure to peak afternoon temperatures for the comfort of audiences, performers and staff alike," representatives said. 

The change will impact the theatre’s newly unveiled summer programming, specifically A Life in Four Seasons – a reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as a dance  – and a new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

In 2024, a survey found that 85% of audiences are worried about climate change but only 16% think cultural organisations consider their role in the crisis.

In 2022, The Stage reported that climate change was creating an uncertain future for outdoor theatre shows, with unpredictable weather – in particular searing heat – forcing a re-evaluation of their business models and requiring extra measures to keep cast and audiences safe.