Over 3,400 people attended 29 nights of outdoor theatre across the summer at Furzey Gardens in the New Forest.
The audience enjoyed a range of productions from quirky interpretations of Shakespeare to humorous family shows.
The summer programme included ‘Lilies on the Land’, a production by Southampton University Players, ‘Bouncers’ by Black Box Theatre based on John Godber’s international hit play and Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ performed by slapstick comedy performers ‘The Handlebards’. For family fun, Morgan and West brought a whirlwind of whimsy and wit with their production of Alexandre Dumas ‘The Three Musketeers.
The highlight of the programme was a three-week run of Shakespeare’s ‘The Comedy of Errors’ by London Touring Players. Set in the 1920s in recognition of Furzey Gardens centenary celebrations, the show saw a live jazz band weave foot-tapping songs and lots of laughs into a madcap performance.
‘A delightful evening’, ‘Would 100% recommend and ‘lots of fun and great cast’ were just a few of the sparkling reviews received from audiences who attended.
Clare Young, Marketing Executive at Furzey Gardens said ‘We have been delighted to see so many people enjoying theatre at Furzey Gardens this summer. There is something magical about spending an evening in the Gardens, so it has been a pleasure to welcome more visitors to enjoy our beautiful and idyllic setting as we celebrate 100 years since the gardens were first laid out.
‘The income these performances have helped generate for our charity will help us continue to offer crucial support and training for people with learning disabilities.’
Furzey Gardens is currently planning future performances of outdoor theatre with new dates being announced on the website when they are confirmed.
Furzey Gardens is run by local charity Minstead Trust and provides training and work experience for people with learning disabilities.
The summer performance season was supported by Harvest Fine Foods.