Theatre at the Bowl Season to close with Romeo & Juliet

South Swindon Parish Council launched Theatre at the Bowl on Saturday 10 July and since then they have welcomed hundreds of visitors to the iconic Town Gardens Bowl, now in its 85th year, with the aim of getting people back into the space and using it again, ahead of the much-anticipated plans to repair and refurbish the area.

The season has hosted a variety of professional touring theatre companies from across the UK, who have successfully inspired and entertained audiences of all ages, through a range of outdoor productions, including Blithe Spirit and The Great Gatsby, as well as original plays such as King Arthur and Wonder with Grimm.

Chair of Leisure, Environment and Amenities, Cllr Neil Hopkins said, “This Bowl was designed by Swindon’s Borough Architect Alfred Ridout and constructed by Swindon Borough Council in 1936. It is one of very few still standing in the world and the only one we know of in this particular Art Deco style in the UK.

We are excited by the plans we’ve put in place to repair and refurbish the Bowl and improve it with its own toilets and food and beverage service stations, likely built in an Art Deco style. Theatre at the Bowl has been the perfect way of bringing it back into more regular use. If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, it’s highly recommended, and of course will help to fund the much-needed repairs and improvements.” 

The season will close with two very special performances of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet from The Duke’s Theatre Company, on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 August, at 7pm. Live music from actor musicians, uproarious comedy and heartbreak are all guaranteed, as they deliver the classical text with modern clarity and relevance - this is a story as current and relatable today as it was when it was first performed over 400 years ago and is suitable for ages 6+.

Town Gardens Café have also supported Theatre at the Bowl at each performance, offering a selection of drinks, snacks, ice-cream, prosecco, G&T and more and you can also pre-book picnic boxes and drinks. 

For more information and to book tickets, picnic boxes and more, visit www.theatreatthebowl.co.uk

You can also stay up to date across Theatre at the Bowl and other events and initiatives by following @SouthSwindonParish on Facebook.