Brownsea Open Air Theatre

Brownsea Open Air Theatre is an open-air Shakespearean theatre company based in Poole, Dorset that has performed large theatrical productions since 1964.

We are very sad to say that our honorary patron Andrew Jarvis has passed away. Andrew was a highly respected and award winning actor whose career spanned many decades, working for the RSC, ESC and National Theatre as well as West End theatres and on film and television. He won much acclaim for his Richard III for the ESC (for which he won the Manchester Evening News "Best Actor" award), and as Gandalf in the musical The Lord of the Rings at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

He became involved with BOAT through his late brother Alan, who was a BOAT trustee, actor and director. As an Honorary Patron of BOAT Andrew gave us a great deal of advice and encouragement, most notably in the annual workshop he ran for the cast. His enthusiasm for Shakespeare was infectious, and he shared his extensive knowledge and experience with great warmth and charm. Working with BOAT actors, many of whom were exploring Shakespeare for the first time, he gave our cast the tools and the confidence they needed. He emphasised trusting the verse ("find the iamb") as a way to unlock Shakespeare's lines, and we have always valued that lesson.

He will be greatly missed by BOAT, and our thoughts are with his wife Gillian and the family.

Auditions for 2026

Our 2026 production will be The Tempest and auditions will be held in February - see our Auditions page for more info and to book an audition slot.

One of the biggest theatrical projects in the south, the annual production has been set on The National Trust's Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset for the past 60 years. These beautiful surroundings have made for a wonderful show, and a fantastic evening of traditional Shakespeare.

The Winter's Tale 2025 at Canford School

In 2025 BOAT moved to the mainland. Our annual Shakespeare production is now staged in the beautiful grounds of Canford School. The auditorium is similar to that we are all used to on Brownsea Island, plus there is free parking (including accessible parking) and a large picnic area with toilet facilities. Canford School also offer food and refreshments before the show and during the interval. For more information go to our Visit page

BOAT receive excellent national and regional coverage, and have been featured in The Guardian as one of the UK's Top 10 Open Air Theatre Venues, Debrett's 2009 list of the top five things to do in England and in 2019 Woman's Weekly featured BOAT as one of the Top 5 Open Air Theatres in the UK.

Since 1964 BOAT has involved over 1,700 volunteers, entertained thousands of people and raised over £300,000 for the National Trust and other good causes.

BOAT is a registered charity (no. 278003). The company is professionally run, but all those involved with BOAT, whether onstage, backstage or front-of-house are unpaid volunteers.

Macbeth 2024
Macbeth, Brownsea Open Air Theatre 2024

Support BOAT

As a charity we give the majority of our profits to good causes, leaving a small reserve for the following year's production. As such, we rely on income from donations to keep afloat between shows and to maintain the high production values you've come to expect.

We would be very grateful if you would consider making a donation to BOAT. Any amount, however small, would be most gratefully accepted.

You can also help BOAT by using Easyfundraising and nominating Brownsea Open Air Theatre as your chosen charity. Then every time you shop online we get a donation - at no cost to you!