The OVO Roman Theatre Open Air Festival 2026 promises an unmissable summer of theatre, music and comedy.
This summer, audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the magic of open-air performance at the breathtaking Roman Theatre of Verulamium. The award-winning OVO theatre production company returns with its Roman Theatre Open Air Festival for a 12th season, presenting a bold, imaginative and surprising programme of classic reimaginings alongside a curated line-up of live music and comedy from 5th June to 31st August 2026.
Since its inception in 2014, OVO’s Roman Theatre Festival has become a cornerstone of the UK’s open air theatre calendar, now welcoming over 16,000 visitors each summer. Audiences are invited to gather with family and friends in Britain’s oldest producing theatre to experience fresh and inventive drama, where they can watch the sun set behind the stage and experience the echoes of nearly two millennia of theatrical history in this stunning location.
The festival opens with a thrilling new production of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, one of OVO’s signature literary adaptations. This play brings beloved characters and intriguing mysteries to life, adapted and directed by 2025 Royal Television Society award-winner, Mark O’Sullivan.
OVO’s Artistic Director, Adam Nichols will present two musical adaptations, starting with a glamorous 1920s reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Accompanied by a live jazz soundtrack, Wilde’s sparkling wit and fizzing physical comedy will burst onto the stage with newfound elegance.
This is followed by a celebratory 10th anniversary revival of OVO’s most popular Shakespeare adaptation, As You Like It. In this vibrant interpretation, the Forest of Arden meets the Swinging Sixties, transporting audiences on a magical, uplifting trip to the Summer of Love.
Ha Hum Ah’s The Scarlet Pimpernel will lead audiences to Revolution-era France. This theatrical retelling of Baroness Orczy’s swashbuckling classic, adapted by Ben Kernow, is a whirlwind of comedy and chaos defined by daring disguises and marital misunderstandings.
The Pantaloons Theatre Company take audiences on a breathless race through the centuries in The (almost) Complete History of Britain – a delightfully inventive play that tells the entire story of Britain in under two hours.
Continuing OVO’s commitment to local youth and community talent, Act4 Productions returns with Stephen Sondheim’s sophisticated musical masterpiece, Company.
And closing the season, OVO’s own critically acclaimed Youth Ensemble will perform a zany seaside take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by OVO Associate Artist, Faith Turner.
Adam Nichols, OVO Founder and Artistic Director, said “It’s hard to believe that this will be our twelfth summer festival at the Roman Theatre, but I couldn’t be more excited to be sharing another mix of quirky adaptations of the classics, performed by our amazingly talented troupe of actor musicians – along with our equally brilliant friends – in this most magical of settings.”
Tickets go on general sale on 20th February 2026 priced from £15. Offering priority booking ahead of general release, Standard and Premium Season Tickets are on-sale now with an Early Bird launch offer until 13th February priced from just £72.
For more information visit www.ovo.org.uk/roman-theatre-festival-2026