• Red Rose Chain - A Midsummer Night's Dream

Summer Theatre Guide

If all the world’s a stage, the Suffolk Coast is certainly no exception! Whether you fancy a Shakespeare play in a forest, a reimagined classical ballet, a comedy night, or a musical performance that will have you singing all the way home, there’s no shortage of live shows to enjoy this summer. 

Come and be part of the vibrant theatre scene along the beautiful Suffolk Coast!

The Marina Theatre

Marina Theatre - exterior

Music lovers are in for a treat with the Marina Theatre’s electrifying summer lineup. Get ready to groove with Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, or take a nostalgic trip with Radio 2’s Tony Blackburn and his Sounds of the 60s Live. And with tribute nights celebrating the likes of Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, Whitney Houston, Cher, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and more, there’s sure to be something for every musical fan.  
  
Dance enthusiasts won’t want to miss Kevan Allen’s magical retelling of the beloved classical ballet, Coppélia which comes to the Marina Theatre on 27th June. KVN Company tells the story of the eccentric toymaker and his lifelike mechanical doll through a fusion of classical ballet with contemporary dance and hip hop. Described as a beautiful blend of dance languages, the production remains true to the ballet’s spirit whilst creating something new and exciting for audiences of today.    
 
The Marina Comedy Club continues to entertain with their monthly comedy nights, while the Marina Company's summer production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde promises to captivate audiences with its dramatic storytelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic novella.
 
Visit https://www.marinatheatre.co.uk/ for the whole summer schedule.  

Theatre in the Forest at Sutton Hoo – A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Midsummer nights dream

Join Red Rose Chain Theatre Company as they return to Sutton Hoo to celebrate their 25th anniversary of Theatre in the Forest with this year’s production of Shakespeare’s greatest comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The perfect introduction to the Bard for children and young people, these shows are known for bringing accessible and refreshing interpretations, amazing designs, and quirky characters that propel the audience right into the action.  

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will take you on an exhilarating adventure into a magical forest filled with fairies, spells and a whole lot of hilarious mischief.  Performed in the already enchanting Sutton Hoo, make sure you arrive from 5pm to enjoy the beautiful National Trust site with your theatre ticket before the auditorium opens at 6pm.  

To book one of nightly performances between 24 July and 24 August visit: https://www.redrosechain.com/a-midsummer-nights-dream/details 

Felixstowe Spa Pavilion 

Felixstowe Spa Pavilion stage

Felixstowe’s beautiful seafront theatre have scores of exciting musical productions to enjoy this summer. 

First up, Walk Like a Man is the ultimate award-winning tribute show to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Produced by Mark Halliday, a star of Jersey Boys at London’s Prince Edward Theatre, the show has a cast of West End performers ready to impress with their incredible vocals, slick moves and infectious charm. 

If funk is more your vibe, The James Brown Story, backed by a cast of actors, singers, dancers and a show-stopping funk orchestra, will take you on a journey through the decades to celebrate the legacy of the Godfather of Soul.  For country lovers, Country Roads – One Night of Country Classics promises to be a celebration of the Kings and Queens of country music, while The Magic of Motown will take you down memory lane with classics from Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and many, many more. 

With tribute nights dedicated to The Carpenters, UB40, ABBA, Rod Stewart and others, as well as a chance to catch the Rhythm of the Dance 25th Anniversary Global Tour celebrating Irish music, dance and history, there’s sure to be a summer show on at Felixstowe Spa Pavilion for everyone.   

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall

Visit the charming Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall at the start of June to experience Wakefire, a midsummer folk music incantation to the summertime and all that it holds. 

Don’t miss The Fugitives, a folk roots collective from Vancouver, described as the missing link between Leonard Cohen and the Pogues. Performing at the end of June, the band will showcase their latest album, ‘No Help Coming’ a thought-provoking collection of songs exploring the complexities of the everyday – of families, partners and friendships – set against the ever-present clarion call of climate change.  

And in July, be sure to catch Polly Gibbons for the Jazz @ Jubilee Presents, described by the Sunday Times as a jazz talent whose voice is steeped in vintage R&B with shades of Aretha Franklin, Gibbons will be joined for a special performance by the trio Jim Watson (organ), Al Cherry (guitar), and George Double (drums). 

To see what else is on and to book tickets, head to: https://aldeburghjubileehall.co.uk/whats-on/ 

The Cut at Halesworth

The Cut Halesworth

Head to The Cut in Halesworth, an intimate theatre seating 200 in a beautifully converted heritage maltings, to enjoy one of the captivating productions lined up this summer.  

fEAST Theatre’s production of Elephant is a brand-new play written by acclaimed novelist and scriptwriter Jeremy Page. Inspired by growing up alongside coastal erosion, Page’s moving play features four very different characters, who follow their own agendas whilst attempting to communicate through a cocktail of lies, jealousy, deceit, love and compassion, in a house that is slowly crumbling into the North Sea.  

Friendly Invasion performed by Harleston Players, revisits the wartime arrival of the American Air Force and explores the ways in which the thousands of Americans influenced life in the region, while the witty comedy, No Country for Old Woman - a collaboration between Field Theatre Group and Cliff-Edge Theatre Company - is a poignant take on later life in all its baffling glory. 

To book tickets and see what else is on visit: https://thecut.org.uk/

Aldeburgh Festival

Snape Maltings Concert Hall
Internationally recognised for its unique combination of music and arts, this year’s Aldeburgh Festival is the 75th in the Festival’s history. 

Four featured musicians - violinist Daniel Pioro, cellist Alban Gerhardt and composers Unsuk Chin and Judith Weir – form a backbone of the programming, promising an exciting mix of opera, orchestras, choirs, singers, dance, chamber music, recitals, films, talks and a thrilling range of music from the medieval to the brand new, alongside a fascinating visual arts programme. 

With events taking place throughout the month of June in the wonderful surroundings of Snape and Aldeburgh, be sure to check the full programme before booking your selected shows: brittenpearsarts.org 


Things to see and do

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall

Nestling in the heart of the seaside town of Aldeburgh in Suffolk sits the historic and much- loved Jubilee Hall.

Read more >

Snape Maltings

Snape Maltings

Snape

Snape Maltings sits on the bank of the River Alde, surrounded by a designated National Landscape and just five miles from Aldeburgh.

Read more >
Free wifi Dog friendly Wheelchair Accessible EV charging Cycle friendly

Marina Theatre

Marina Theatre

The Marina Theatre is proud to be Lowestoft’s not-for-profit professional theatre. Their charity number is 1149133. 

Read more >
Wheelchair Accessible

The Cut - Halesworth

The Cut - Halesworth

Halesworth

The Cut Arts Centre offers Halesworth and the surrounding countryside an extensive range of arts, music, theatre, dance, comedy, cinema, workshops and art exhibitions. 

Read more >
Free wifi

Red Rose Chain

Red Rose Chain

Award-winning Independent theatre company based in Suffolk with community at the heart of all they do. Creators of Theatre In The Forest, East Anglia's largest outdoor theatre event, and home to Suffolk's newest creative venue The Avenue Theatre.

Read more >
Free wifi Dog friendly Wheelchair Accessible

Felixstowe Spa Pavilion Theatre

Felixstowe Spa Pavilion Theatre

A glorious seafront theatre and restaurant complex, with stunning views, an art deco auditorium for up to 900 people and a fabulous British Seaside and Mediterranean-style fish, meat, pizza, pasta & grill menu. 


Read more >
Free wifi Dog friendly Wheelchair Accessible

Events

Theatre in the Forest 2024: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Theatre in the Forest 2024: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Woodbridge | Wed 24th Jul - Sat 24th Aug 2024

Theatre in the Forest returns this summer to Sutton Hoo for its BIG 25TH ANNIVERSARY with Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Read more >

Song Sung Blue

Song Sung Blue

Lowestoft | Fri 26th Jul 2024

’Song Sung Blue' is a show which pays tribute to the music and career of Neil Diamond. Returning to the Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft, following two complete sell-out visits in 2022 and 2023.

Read more >
Wheelchair Accessible

Black Shuck Festival

Black Shuck Festival

Bungay | Fri 02nd - Sun 04th Aug 2024

Bungay, a pretty market town less than half an hour inland from the coast, carries a dark secret; the legend of The Black Dog of Bungay - a demon hell-hound which wreaked havoc in the town in 1577 and which is depicted on the town crest, its weathervane and in the names of many of its organisations.

Read more >

Twist and Shout at Spa Pavilion Felixstowe

Twist and Shout at Spa Pavilion Felixstowe

Felixstowe | Sat 10th Aug 2024

An all-star cast from the West End deliver a musical powerhouse of a show that starts with the explosion of Brit Pop in 1962 through to the era of Flower Power and Free Love of the late Sixties.

Read more >

The UB40 Experience at Spa Pavilion Felixstowe

The UB40 Experience at Spa Pavilion Felixstowe

Felixstowe | Sat 31st Aug 2024

The no.1 tribute to UB40, featuring 'Stars In Your Eyes' winner Andi Bagnali as Ali Campbell, plus a line up of hand picked, world class musicians. The band are set to be one of the biggest and best tribute bands in Europe.

Read more >
Wheelchair Accessible

The Drifters in Concert at Spa Pavilion Felixstowe

The Drifters in Concert at Spa Pavilion Felixstowe

Felixstowe | Fri 06th Sep 2024

The Drifters are back on tour in the UK with a brand-new show performing all their classic hits from the last six decades.

Read more >