The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Cornwall, July 2021

The Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre carved into granite cliffs overlooking the sea at Porthcurno in Cornwall. Porthcurno Bay provides a spectacular backdrop to the theatre’s stage. It is located 4 miles (6.2 kilometres) from Land’s End. The theatre runs plays and other performances from May to September. As well as shows, people can visit for self-guided or guided tours and visit the subtropical garden.

The theatre was created by Rowena Cade (1893–1983). She grew up in Cheltenham and moved to Cornwall after the First World War and the death of her father. She built a house for herself and her mother at Minack Point. The theatre was built by hand in the garden of that house starting in 1931. The first performance was of The Tempest in summer 1932. Rowena Cade with help from her gardener Billy Rawlings started by building the stage over six months along with rough seating. Materials were hauled down from the house or up the winding path from the beach below. Over the decades that followed Cade, with help from Billy Rawlings and Charles Angove, worked to steadily improve the theatre over the winter months so performances could take place each summer. Miss Cade continued working on her theatre well into her eighties.

Today the theatre is run by a local management team and is a registered Charitable Trust. More information can be found at the official website.

Evening of 28th July 2021.

A row of plastic seats running along a terrace with bare granite rocks behind. The theatre is still mostly empty as people arrive for a performance. The sea can be seen down below and extending away to the horizon.
A row of plastic seats running along a terrace with bare granite rocks behind. The theatre is still mostly empty as people arrive for a performance. The sea can be seen down below and extending away to the horizon.
Close-up shot of Tony and Tatiana who are visiting to see a modern performance of William Shakespeare's, A Winter's Tale. Behind them a view of paths and terraces running up the cliff.
Close-up shot of Tony and Tatiana who are visiting to see a modern performance of William Shakespeare’s, A Winter’s Tale. Behind them a view of paths and terraces running up the cliff.
Rows of seats can be seen built into the rock below, now mostly full of people, with the roughly semi-circular stage at the base. The rocky sea-shore and Porthcurno Bay in view beyond.
Rows of seats can be seen built into the rock below, now mostly full of people, with the roughly semi-circular stage at the base. The rocky sea-shore and Porthcurno Bay in view beyond.
The left side of the stage with a circular raised platform in the corner. A spectacular view of the sea with rugged outcrops of rock in the distance.
The left side of the stage with a circular raised platform in the corner. A spectacular view of the sea with rugged outcrops of rock in the distance.
Rows of spectators sitting on the rock seats.
Rows of spectators sitting on the rock seats.
Steep concrete steps providing access to the terraced seats and the stage below.
Steep concrete steps providing access to the terraced seats and the stage below.
Another view of the audience below. The terraces of seats are mostly topped with grass.
Another view of the audience below. The terraces of seats are mostly topped with grass.
The right side of the theatre with rigging for lights and sound as well as again a clear view of the sea beyond.
The right side of the theatre with rigging for lights and sound as well as again a clear view of the sea beyond.
The performance of A Winter's Tale now taking place. Several actors sitting amongst props on the lit stage. Beyond the sea still visible in the twilight.
The performance of A Winter’s Tale now taking place. Several actors sitting amongst props on the lit stage. Beyond the sea still visible in the twilight.
People leaving at the end of the performance. The stage still illuminated but the sea now obscured by the darkness.
People leaving at the end of the performance. The stage still illuminated but the sea now obscured by the darkness.