Minack Theatre

Grateful to have made the effort to experience a daytime visit here on a recent return to the UK… can’t wait for the opportunity to come back and experience an actual performance, which runs from around mid April to late October or so on a rotating weeklong residency basis from different traveling companies.
I managed to visit the theatre via public transport, which consists of a 9 pound or so return ticket from Penzance station that leaves only every two hours, so plan carefully if you want to use this option. I don’t recall the public transportation option being available on my previous visit to the area in late 2007, so thank you to the system if it is a recent addition.
The theatre and its surroundings feel like something out of a novel or film, where the property is nestled high on a hill from the main village, and once you get inside, there is a stunning wraparound view of the cove and inviting sea. A tastefully modest museum invites visitors to learn about the fascinating story behind the creation of the theatre and how it had to be rebuilt after the UK’s involvement in the world wars.
The theatre invites guests to explore the grounds after paying admission. Be prepared to do some hiking on the very steep stairs, and be awestruck by both aspects of the view to the ocean and of the carefully landscaped grounds.
The theatre café (which provided my first introduction to the theatre when I saw it appear onscreen in the mid-​2000s film «Keeping Mum») is also worth a visit. The cheerful and bubbly staff coupled with quintessential English fare of biscuits, tea and soup made my meal an excellent and tasteful experience.

What a gorgeous place. We didn’t get a chance to see a play here, but it’s not expensive to get in and see the small museum explaining Rowena Cade, the creator of the theatre, and her life and the building of the place. Even without going in, there’s a free coastal path next to the entrance that has stunning views of the bright blue sea, cliffs, and beach. The theatre itself also has beautiful views, and we really enjoyed wandering around it. There is also a sub-​tropical garden that is probably prettier in the summer.

Die Location macht einen sprachlos. Die Lage einmalig, ein in der Fels gehauenes Theater eine atemberaubende Aussicht.
Leider hatten wir keine Zeit uns eine Vorführung anzusehen, aber auch so lohnt sich ein Besuch auf jeden Fall.
Wer in der Gegend ist sollte auf jeden Fall vorbeischauen.

If you are researching about Minack Theatre, chances are you will be going if you can fit it into your itinerary. It’s an absolutely amazing place, even if you are only going in the day time to see what the commotion is all about. Day ticket admits you to the museum that tells you about the origin of Minack Theatre and lets you roam around the «stage» to take lots of photos.
If you are very organised, then you should get some tickets to watch a performance. I watched a performance of David Copperfield here, and from sunset until dark I was absolutely glued to the performance.
Here are some top tips for watching an evening performance:
+ buy tickets well in advance online
+ go straight to the box office to collect your tickets before queuing up for entry
+ get there as early as possible to get seats close to the stage (if you have unreserved seating, like we did, we arrived two hours before performance and got seats on the fifth row)
+ bring cushions (or rent some)
+ bring a heavy blanket
+ bring warm clothes, including hats and gloves even if it’s middle of summer
+ bring a picnic dinner and/​or snacks while you wait for performance to start
+ bring binoculars — we spotted a pair of basking sharks by the coast before the performance!

Eine atemberaubende Szenerie für ein Theater kann man sich kaum vorstellen. Besonders an einem schönen Sommerabend.
Das Theater selbst ist in den Felsen gebaut und wie an Amphitheater aufgebaut. Wir sahen Love’s Labour’s Lost von Shakespeare.
Ein wahrer Theatergennuss vor der Kulisse von blauem Meer, blauem Wolkenhimmel und der Felsenlandschaft im Hintergrund.
Wenn möglich mit dem Auto anreisen, da die Busverbindungen eingeschränkt zu sein scheinen.
Karten am besten VORHER kaufen, um noch eine zu bekommen.
Picknick und Decken nicht vergessen.
Die Toiletten sind sehr gut.

The Minack Theatre is an incredible creation. A theatre built into the granite cliff face almost single-​handedly by one women, Ms Rowena Cade.
The project was started in 1931 and Ms Cade worked on planning, building and financing the theatre until her death in 1983. What started out as one person’s back garden has now become a world famous outdoor theatre.
As well as the theatre itself, there are also rock gardens, a café and a small shop to keep visitors busy. Theatre tickets are relatively cheap and surprisingly easy to obtain. I was lucky enough to see the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, Pirates of Penzance here. A very topical production on the wild cliffs of Cornwall. The play was put on by the Cambridge G&S society but was surprisingly professional in its production.
However, this is somewhere you are more likely to visit for the ambiance and experience — the play itself becomes somewhat irrelevant as you snuggle up close to the person beside you, trying to keep out of the harsh Cornish winds.
A truly exceptional experience, I highly recommend it if you get the chance to go. Just remember to wrap up warm, bring a picnic and a nice bottle of wine, and lose yourself in your surroundings.

Durch Zufall haben wir auf unserer letzten Cornwall Reise dieses bezauberne Theater entdeckt. Es befindet sich nähe Land’s End in Porthcurno. Direkt zwischen Sandstränden und der Steilküste wurde dieses beeindruckende Amphi-​Theater erbaut. Die großzügige Bühne und das rauschende Meer im Hintergrund sind ein unvergessliches Erlebniss. Eintritsspreise variieren zwischen 4 – 6 Pfund. Die Theaterkarten sollte man sich zeitig kaufen, da fast immer die Performances restlos ausgebucht sind (Preis pro Karte um die 10 Pfund). Ich kann dieses Theater nur empfehlen, da allein seine Bauweise einzigartig ist und selbst mein Freund (Theaterneuling) begeistert war, als wir uns hier ‘The Prime of Mrs. Jean Brodie’ angesehen haben. Es war ein unvergessliches Erlebniss!

Such a magical place. The sunny weather made it feel like the Mediterranean and the location with it’s sea & beach views was just perfect. The design is such that the theatre appears to be an actual part of the cliff…

A theatre, carved into the granite on the edge of a cliff, with a few rows, forming an open-​air ampitheatre.
Definitely one of those places to go to in the UK, even if you are not into theatre, just because of its amazing surrounding. Set over a cliff right on the South West corner of the UK, the views are just stunning.
I will have to say that it took my breath away, although I know it sounds corny!
I went to watch William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost on a summer night, which added to the magic of the moment.
There is a nice little café in the entrance, where you can stop to buy a homemade sandwich or sweet treat from the area. I would recommend to drink something hot as it gets chilly in the evening, even in a hot day in summer.
I wondered at first why people were arriving with blankets, and I understood when it was too late!
I would also recommend to take something soft to sit on, as being as you are sitting on a hard surface, it will get uncomfortable after a while.

Hoch über der cornischen Küste hat in den 20iger Jahren Rowena Cade ihr Lebenswerk begonnen — ein den antiken Amphitheatern nachempfundener Theaterbau unter freiem Himmel, die Sitzplätze aus Stein, in den Rücken“lehnen” Titel bekannter Dramen und Komödien sowie die Namen der Autoren.
Diese Stelle ist nur wenige Kilometer von Land’s End entfernt.
Hier werden im Sommer Theaterstücke aufgeführt, große Bühnen sowie kleine, exquisite Produktionen — ein Must für Theater– und Kunstfreaks.

A stunning location, spoiled by average productions. This place has breathtaking views but, and this is a big but, the weather has to be just right and the productions are mainly done by amateurs. Good amateurs, but amateurs all the same. Don’t come for the shows but stay for the experience.
Once you’ve done it once though and maybe even twice. You start to wish for better performances. But still, definitely worth a visit.

I liked this place. The views were amazing and its such a stunning theatre. Theres not alot to it but its definitely something you have to see. The prices to get in were not bad. Inside there is a little information centre about the theatre.
However I would not reccomend here to those who have difficulties walking as the steps up and down can be quite a challenge.

The Minack Theatre is the most amazing concept, set on the edge of cornwall in the most stunning setting its worth more than the £3 to get in and look around. One Womans vision and hard work provides a glorious location for any performance.

When we visited the Minack Theatre we were blessed with the most perfect summer’s day. The stunning backdrop of the crystal blue sea and the interspersed colour of the plants, set off the theatre perfectly. Could there be a more perfect setting to perform Shakespearean plays? I doubt it! The fact this place was constructed largely through the hard work of one woman, Rowena Cade, makes for fascinating backstory to this beautiful place. The Minack Theatre is one of Cornwall’s hidden gems, and one you must experience!

The Minack is absolutly amazing with a great view of the sea in the background of the plays. Always brilliant entertainment there and the staff arew very friendly and helpful.

Theaterlust mit Blick aufs Meer weltberühmt, man muss einfach mal da gewesen sein, es ist einfach so einzigartig das sich die Reise nach Cornwall schon deshlab lohnt. Besonders toll finde ich das meist sehr kreative junge Theaterfirmen dort auftreten

you have a list of things to do and places to see before you die then this must surely be on it. One of Cornwall’s hidden and unspoiled gems, this is well worth a long trip to find! Carved out of the cliff face in the early 20^th century by Rowena Cade, this open air theatre offers performances by some of the country’s leading theatre companies. They offer matinée and evening performances during the season but wrap up warm as it gets really chilly!

This is a stunning place, an open-​air theatre built into a cliff-​side in the style of a Roman amphitheatre, the result of the vision & determination of a remarkable woman. It’s location is impressive & the Theatre is also surrounded by spectacular sub-​tropical rockeries, a delight to walk around. There is a coffee shop with breathtaking views of the bay. You have to see it for yourself to appreciate how awesome this Theatre is.

I visited this place during the day when there was no productions and still had an amazing time. I cant imagine watching a performace with such a backdrop, it must be breathtaking and awe inspiring, so romantic. The prices for the productions seem justified. It is just such a weird place, to understand the history of how it became and know that it is contiuned to be used it great. It is out in the sticks, but then it has to be to be such a magical place. If you are in this part of cornwall you just have to visit here.

Imagine a theatre with a back-​drop of the ocean and as the light of the day fades you can see dolphins playing in the bay or an occasional basking shark. And these sights are extras to the amazing productions which transport your imagination to another place. During the season, May to September the productions change each week from Monday to Friday. They may be anything from Shakespeare to Gilbert and Sulliavn, comedy to tragedy, or childrens’ productions. A visit during your holiday is a ‘must’. And even if the play isn’t to your taste then there is the magnificent view to entertain you!
Out of season visit the museum and learn about the founder of the theatre, Rowena Cade who built the theatre in the 1930s, and also see the theatre and the wonderful views from it.

I know the other reviews have mostly included the word ‘magical’ but there’s really no better word to describe this place. The Minack’s location is spectacular, on a clifftop with the waves crashing below and the setting seems so natural, as though the theatre has literally been carved out of the rockface. It feels like an ancient place, like something the Greeks or Romsan would have built and its incredible to discover how this place was created due to the vision of one twentieth century woman. This place is a must see at any time and on a crisp Cornish winters day its very atmospheric but it is well worth palnning a trip around the summer outdoor theatre productions, they are family friendly and an incredibly memorable experience. Take a picnic and cushions!

Forget the VERY tacky Lands End & come visit here instead. It’s in a stunning location & is quite magical. Sit on the stone seats even when there are no actors rehearsing or shows taking place & just let your imagination run wild. An unmissable place to see & sit & soak up the atmosphere.

A must-​see if you’re in the area. The Minack Theatre overlooks Porthcurno Bay and is impressive in any weather. I arrived during a rainstorm and it was easy to imagine how breathtaking the first showing of The Tempest must have been. The titles of the plays that have been put on in the theatre are etched into the stone seats, and you can wander freely through the theatre when there are no shows in session. Highly recommended, particularly enjoyable if you hike up from Porthcurno Beach.

This is an awesome place to see! The Minack theatre is the brain child of Rowena Cade, a real character of a women who lived on the rugged coast between lands end and Penzance.
Rowena decided to bring theatre to Cornwall back in the 30’s and with herself and a couple of locals went about building a outdoor theatre right on the cliffs above the Atlantic.
Its quaint, romantic and the views are beautiful even without players acting out Shakespeare on the stage.
It has a café, an exhibition about Rowena Cade, and souvenirs.
I heard a story about a ship being wrecked right on the coast there with a shipment of timber — the timber disappeared in true Cornish fashion. The investigators went to see Rowena Cade about where the timber had gone, they took one look at her and thought she couldn’t have possibly taken all the timber up the steep cliffs by herself — but she had! She has truly made a magical place!