Hever Festival Theatre is an idyllic setting for a wonderful summer’s day, or evening, of socialising combined with fantastic entertainment. The open-air festival venues are set in magical locations in the award-winning gardens of Hever Castle.
There is something for everyone in the first week of this year’s festival season including Shakespeare, opera, musical entertainment, history, family entertainment and comedy to celebrate 40 years since The Festival Theatre began.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the festival’s first play 40 years ago. This year also opens with Shakespeare in The Loggia in the Italian Garden where AS YOU LIKE IT gets The Three Inch Fools treatment. Expect fast-paced drama, musical instruments, mischief and hilarity (Sat 27 May 7.30pm).
Other HALF TERM treats include opera with Forbear! Theatre as they perform THE GONDOLIERS by Gilbert & Sullivan (Sun 28 May 8pm) in The Two Sisters Theatre.
The festival is thrilled to welcome ANN HENNING JOCELYN COUNTESS OF RODEN with her new talk THE BOLEYNS IN CONTEXT (Thurs 1 June 7.30pm) where she explores how contradictory evidence, malicious slander, and political intrigue have all served to obscure the dramatic reality behind the Boleyn story. She will also be launching her new book and play THE SPHERE OF LIGHT set at Hever Castle which will be performed at the festival (4 & 5 Aug 2pm & 8pm).
Local companies Night Owl Shows bring two nostalgic celebrations to Hever with THE FLEETWOOD MAC STORY (Sat 3 June 8pm) and CALIFORNIA DREAMS SOUNDS OF LA (Sun 4 June 8pm), an immersive trip through California in the late 60’s and 70’s and the wonderful Trinity Youth Theatre bring MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR (Wed 31 May 7.30pm).
Family entertainment continues with Illyria’s popular action-packed riotous comedy ROBIN HOOD (Fri 2 June 2.30pm) performed in the enchanting setting of Anne Boleyn’s Woodland Walk that will become Sherwood Forest for the afternoon.
The first of two COMEDY AT THE CASTLE events with GRINSTOCK COMEDY CLUB will bring the country’s leading comedians from the UK National Circuit to Hever (Fri 2 June 7.30pm) including MC for the night RUSSELL ARATHOON and headliners PATRICK MONAHAN and GEOFF BOYZ.
Discover all other performances for the season here.
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
