Crawley's Hawth unveils exciting outdoors line-up

Spokeswoman Lorraine McGregor said: “The Hawth’s summer season of outdoor events is always massively popular and full of fantastic performances for all ages but this summer it will be extra special as it marks the re-opening of the Crawley venue and a return to live theatre that has been so sorely missed in the last year.

“As such the amphitheatre will be jam-packed with events from May until September. Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, Treasure Island (May 30) will kick off the season followed by The Tempest (June 16), The Secret Garden (Aug 10) and Jane Eyre (Aug 21) from This is My Theatre. Award-winning Illyria return with The Further Adventures of Doctor Dolittle (June 26) and Much Ado About Nothing (July 29). Audiences can also book now for Brighton Shakespeare Company’s Julius Caesar (Aug 28) and Slapstick Picnic’s The Importance of Being Earnest (Sept 3). The Hawth is also taking its own in-house production outside with a brand-new show Robin Hood (July 8-11).”

Tickets on hawth.co.uk.

It all comes as the Hawth celebrates its share of recovery funding.

The Hawth is to receive part of a £620,000 award to Parkwood Theatres from the second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. The Hawth was among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57bn fund. The award will ensure financial stability for the theatre as it moves out of lockdown. Opened in 1988, The Hawth typically hosts 350 performances and events a year, attracting more than 150,000 customers.

Tony Doherty, managing director, Parkwood Theatres, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a particularly profound effect on the arts industries and this funding will provide the financial support required to offset the essential costs as the theatre transitions back to true operating capacity. Importantly it will mean The Hawth can retain the remaining highly skilled arts workforce to open the theatre safely and start the recovery.

“Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The second round of awards will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery.

“After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead. This award, which will be shared between all Parkwood-run theatres is essential in allowing us to now focus on bringing all of our stages back to life. We are pleased that the Arts Council has recognised the importance and success of our operations and are willing to support us in our quest to provide a great range of cultural opportunities.”