Open Air Theatre to Present LORD OF THE FLIES, THE BEGGARS OPERA et al. in 2011

The 2010 season at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre became the most successful in the theatre's history with more than 142,000 visitors across its sixteen-week run. Capitalising on the inimitable relationship between production and setting, Into the Woods became the highest-grossing single production at the theatre taking £1.2m in five weeks, whilst The Comedy of Errors became the most successful Shakespeare play. Arthur Miller's The Crucible, attracted a whole new audience to the theatre: 72% of those who attended the play had never been to the venue before. Steve Marmion's production of Macbeth, re-imagined for ages six and over, achieved the highest footfall for a family show.

Executive Director, William Village, says: "With ambitious programming and another record-breaking year, we are delighted to be introducing a new audience to the theatre. The entire team at the Open Air Theatre is proud of what we've achieved over the last three years, securing a significant place in the capital's theatre landscape."

Artistic Director Timothy Sheader and the team at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre are delighted to announce the programme for 2011.

Opening the season on 19 May, and created by the team that produced The Crucible, Timothy Sheader directs William Golding's gripping drama, Lord Of The Flies, adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams. With a group of schoolboys stranded on a desert island, what starts as an adventure becomes a struggle for survival as superstition and immorality sees the community slide into a darkly sinister world. The production will rediscover this classic story in the unconfined and unparalleled atmosphere of theatre in the open air.

Lucy Bailey injects her unique visual dynamism into John Gay's original text of The Beggar's Opera from 23 June. Highwayman Macheath's love of wine, women and song has hilarious consequences, but as the play unfolds his tangled web of lies and deceit unravels as his lovers get revenge. Set beneath the gallows of rural Tyburn, at the far end of Oxford Street, this comically corrupt satire, designed by William Dudley, is packed full of lewd songs and low ballads recreated from the original pastoral score and played on authentic instruments by ‘The City Waits', led by Roddy and Lucie Skeaping.

Continuing the successful series of Shakespeare plays for younger audiences, and making its first appearance at the Open Air Theatre since 1939, Pericles will be re-imagined for everyone aged six and over from 2 July. The young prince, Pericles, takes to the high seas on a quest to discover the world. An odyssey adventure of shipwrecks, tournaments and of love lost, and found, this is a journey into manhood and a celebration of family.

The final production of the 2011 season, playing from 28 July to 10 September, is George and Ira Gershwin's hit musical comedy, Crazy for You. Packed full of Gershwin classics including "I Got Rhythm", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Embraceable You" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It", the original 1992 production won both the Tony® and Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The creative team from the multi-award winning production of Hello, Dolly! reunite as Timothy Sheader directs, with choreography by Stephen Mear and designs by Peter McKintosh. Gareth Valentine returns as the musical director after joining the Open Air Theatre last season for Sondheim's Into the Woods.

Artistic Director, Timothy Sheader, says: "We're thrilled that 2010's success confirms that our artistic ambition is in tune with our audience. Working with first class artists and knowing that our audience is up for the ride, I am confident that we can continue to set ourselves exciting challenges for 2011 and beyond."

Priority Booking for Members opens 23 November 2010

Public Bookings open on 11 January 2011

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Lord of the Flies
19 May - 18 June
Press night: Wednesday 25 May
by William Golding adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams
Directed by Timothy Sheader
Designed by Jon Bausor
Monday - Saturday at 7.45pm (gates open 6.15pm)
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.15pm (gates open 1.15pm)
No matinees on 19, 21 and 26 May

The Beggar's Opera
23 June -23 July
Press night: Tuesday 28 June
by John Gay
Directed by Lucy Bailey
Designed by William Dudley
Original music arranged by Roddy Skeaping
Monday - Saturday at 7.45pm (gates open 6.15pm)
Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.15pm (gates open 1.15pm)
No matinees on 23, 25,and 30 June; Extra matinee on 28 June

Pericles re-imagined for everyone aged six and over
2 - 23 July
Press are welcome from 8 July onwards
by William Shakespeare
Monday - Wednesday, Friday at 1.30pm (gates open 12.30pm)
Saturday at 9.45am (gates open 9.15am)
Sunday at 10.00am (gates open at 9.30am) and 1.30pm (gates open at 12.30pm)
No 1.30pm on 3 July

Crazy for You
28 July - 10 Sept
Prses night: Monday 8 August
Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. Book by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Timothy Sheader
Choreography by Stephen Mear
Designed by Peter McKintosh
Musical Director Gareth Valentine
Monday - Saturday at 7.45pm (gates open 6.15pm)
Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.15pm (gates open 1.15pm)
No matinee on 28 July

Box Office: 0844 826 4242

Online Bookings: www.openairtheatre.com.

Please note: Performance times for Lord of the Flies, The Beggar's Opera and Crazy for You: matinees at 2.15pm (gates open 1.15pm); evenings at 7.45pm (gates open at 6.15pm).

For a full performance schedule visit: www.openairtheatre.com.