The Box Office is now open for booking on all weekdays between 9.30 am and 5 pm.
Summer Festival
Over the past 25 years, the Summer Festival has become established as one of the premier
outdoor events in the South East, attracting thousands every summer many of whom return
year on year. The Festival offers a rich variety of performing arts and entertainment
catering for a wide variety of tastes from jazz to classics; from drama to opera and musical
theatre.
Audience are able to enter the grounds from 6.30pm for evening performances, where
they may enjoy the beautiful Castle gardens and ambience by bringing a picnic, choosing
to eat in a castle restaurant or by simply wandering through the Castle grounds. For
matinee performances, the audience may remain in the grounds after the performance
until the grounds are closed for the day, usually at 6 pm.
Of course the highlight of your visit is to enjoy the feast of theatre and music on offer, prepared by professionals
with an established reputation for quality and set in a magical location. The stage is fully covered, and the seating tiered, with the vast majority of seats also under cover.
The Venue
The Theatre is located on the delightful Two
Sisters Lawn in the award winning gardens of
Hever Castle in Kent, adjacent to the
legendary Anne Boleyn Walk – the Castle was
originally the home of the Boleyn family. The
lawn is surrounded by some delightful flower
beds including the famous ‘long border’ and
an abundance of ornamental trees; it also
contains the picturesque Two Sisters pond
(and grotto) and a magnificent Tulip Tree.
As well as being a visual delight, the setting
provides a natural auditorium with easy
access to the theatre car park and the lakeside
for those who prefer to picnic in view of the
lake. For the others, the lawn itself provides a
convenient and relaxing spot for that preshow
picnic.
Theatre Facilities
The facilities include a large specially designed ‘Saddlespan’ canopy to house the stage and technical equipment, as well as tiered and covered seating for 380. As such, it provides an unusually high degree of protection against inclement weather.
For those audience who prefer a hardier and more adventurous option, the auditorium also provides a further 70 reserved uncovered seats for music events, as well as unreserved space on the grass either side of the reserved seating for concerts.
Food and Drink
Pre Theatre Suppers are now available from the Pavilion Restaurant on all performance evenings *
(Menu available upon request from the Theatre box office).
Booking in advance is recommended, directly with the Pavilion Restaurant on 01732 861721
(Please note bookings can only be received after Easter)
A Snack food counter and bar is also available pre-performance and during the interval *
Interval drinks may be pre-ordered on the evening
* Please note there will be no pre-theatre suppers or refreshments available before the opera on Saturday 3rd July, due to the Gala Dinner. Refreshments will be available as usual during the interval.
Audiences are welcome to picnic in the glorious grounds of Hever Castle before the show begins. The lakeside setting offers a delightful start to the evening, but there are other areas of the grounds which include Two Sisters Lawn itself and perhaps even a glimpse of the Castle.
Accommodation
On selected weekends, the Astor Wing will be offering accommodation . Each of their 21 rooms are individually
designed, offering both comfort and luxury. For further information please phone 01732 861 800 or email
tudor@hevercastle.co.uk
Parking
There is free and ample parking for cars and coaches, most of which provides hard standing.
