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Minack Theatre

Cornwall

Booking Minack Theatre

  • A truly unique theatre carved from granite cliffs, offering dramatic sea views from every seat.
  • Built and staged by hand from the 1930s onward—a living tribute to Rowena Cade’s vision.
  • A busy summer season with live performances and year-round garden access.
Prices from: £10
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A dramatic open-air theatre perched on granite cliffs above Porthcurno Bay, where live performances take place under the open sky.

Times

Gardens and theatre open for visits from April to October, typically 10:00–16:00. Performance schedule varies by season. View all available times here

Attraction Duration

2-3 hours

Age Range

Attraction Overview

Created in the early 1930s by Rowena Cade and local helpers, the theatre was hand-built from a cliffside garden into terraces carved from granite. Its first production, The Tempest, debuted in 1932 against the backdrop of the Atlantic. Today you can explore the seating terraces, stage and backstage spaces when no show is on. Guided tours occasionally feature a portrayal of Billy Rawlings, one of the original builders, bringing that story to life.

During summer months, the theatre hosts around 200 performances—from Shakespeare and opera to live music and children’s plays. Even off-season, you may catch rehearsals or set-building taking place on site. Subtropical gardens surround the theatre, offering sea views and rare plants that survive in Porthcurno’s mild climate.

Be sure to explore...

  • Terraced seating cut into the cliff, complete with stone balustrades and sweeping ocean vistas.
  • The stage area, where performances are staged with the sea as a dramatic backdrop.
  • Backstage spaces and small gardens where rehearsals, workshops or set-building sometimes happen.
  • Subtropical planting around the theatre, well suited to Porthcurno’s mild and sheltered climate.

How to get here

Perched off Minack Point near Porthcurno, four miles west of Land’s End. Follow brown tourist signs down the coastal lane to the final car park beside the cliff.

Get here by Public Transport

Local buses from Penzance stop at Porthcurno village. From the stop, it’s a short steep walk down to the theatre entrance.