Scarborough Open Air Theatre

Scarborough Open Air Theatre (commonly abbreviated the SOAT or OAT) is an outdoor theatre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It was built in Northstead Manor Gardens in 1932, and originally closed in 1986.

Scarborough Open Air Theatre

Address	Northstead Manor Gardens Burniston Road YO12 6PF Scarborough England
Coordinates	54.300°N 0.410°W
Type	Outdoor theatre
Capacity	8,000
Current use	Multi-use
Construction
Opened	1932
Rebuilt	2010
Years active	1932–1986; 2010–
Website
http://www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com

Renovation

In 2008, planning permission was received for a major renovation.[1] The £3.5 million scheme to transform the Open Air Theatre was completed in May 2010.[2][3]

Events

The venue stages a mixed entertainment programme including music concerts, opera productions and community events.[4]

During the World Cup 2010, all England football matches were shown live on a large TV screen for free.

In September 2017 music promoters Cuffe & Taylor signed a ten-year deal with the borough council to bring concerts to the venue for the next ten years.[5]

90,000 people attended concerts at the venue in 2018[6] setting a new audience record for the venue and bringing an estimated £7 million to the local economy.[7]

In December 2018 the venue was used to host the Scarborough Sparkle Christmas event with an ice rink and Christmas market.[8]

Capacity

When it reopened in 2010 the capacity of the theatre was 6,500 but this was increased to 8,000 in 2017 when the lake area was covered over.[9]

Royal re-opening

The theatre was officially opened by the Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh on 20 May 2010.[10]

2010 season

• 23 July 2010 – Jose Carreras, Dame Kiri te Kanawa
• 31 July 2010 – Rick Astley, Paul Young, Midge Ure
• 28 August 2010 – Bucks Fizz

2011 season

• 5 June 2011 – Elton John
• 30 July 2011 – N-Dubz
• 24 August 2011 – Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Jai McDowall, Aled Jones

2012 season

• 6 June 2012 – Dionne Warwick
• 21 June 2012 – John Barrowman
• 15 July 2012 – Olly Murs
• 4 August 2012 – Russell Watson
• 18 August 2012 – JLS

2013 season

• 6 June 2013 – Olly Murs
• 14 June 2013 – The Wanted
• 12 July 2013 – Leona Lewis
• 27 July 2013 – Status Quo
• 3 August 2013 – Katherine Jenkins & The National Symphony Orchestra
• 23 August 2013 – The Saturdays & Conor Maynard
• 30 August 2013 – McFly

2014 season

• 25 June 2014 – Jessie J
• 27 June 2014 – McBusted
• 28 June 2014 – Aled Jones & Laura Wright
• 12 July 2014 – Status Quo
• 26 July 2014 – Boyzone & Ronan Keating
• 27 July 2014 – Little Mix
• 2 August 2014 – Rick Astley & Jason Donovan
• 23 August 2014 – Union J, support: Luke Friend & Rough Copy

2015 season

• 13 June 2015 – Boyzone & Ronan Keating
• 20 June 2015 – The Vamps & Union J
• 27 June 2015 – Alfie Boe
• 10 July 2015 – Jessie J
• 11 July 2015 – Elaine Paige with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, support: Collabro & Rhydian
• 18 July 2015 – McBusted
• 29 July 2015 – Tom Jones
• 1 August 2015 – Rick Astley
• 15 August 2015 – UB40
• 30 August 2015 – Only The Young & Hoosiers

2017 season

• – May 2017 – The Beach Boys
• – May 2017 – Kaiser Chiefs
• 16 June 2017 – The Charlatans
• 17 June 2017 – The Jackson
• 28 June 2017 – Michael Ball & Alfie Boe
• 29 June 2017 – Cliff Richard
• 30 June 2017 – UB40
• 1 July 2017 – George Benson
• 2 July 2017 – Tom Jones
• 6 July 2017 – Little Mix
• 9 July 2017 – Olly Murs
• 3 August 2017 – Madness
• 5 August 2017 – 80s vs 90s
• 11 August 2017 – Jess Glynne [11]

2018 season

• 19 July 2018 – Stereophonics
• 19 June 2018 – Lionel Richie
• 21 June 2018 – The Script
• 22 June 2018 – Gary Barlow
• 29 June 2018 – Steps
• 30 June 2018 – Alfie Boe
• 8 July 2018 – Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
• 21 July 2018 – Il Divo
• 28 July 2018 – Bastille
• 11 August 2018 – Texas
• 12 August 2018 – James Arthur [12]
• 17 August 2018 – Britney Spears [13]
• 18 August 2018 – James

2019 season

• 14 June 2019 – Biffy Clyro[14]
• 26 June 2019 – Cliff Richard[15]
• 1 August 2019 – Kylie Minogue[16][17]

2020 season

• 4 July 2020 – Snow Patrol [18]
• 10 July 2020 – Mixtape [19]
• 21 July 2020 – Little Mix [20]
• 14 August 2020 – Mcfly [21]
• 15 August 2020 – Louis Tomlinson [22]

2021 season

• 12 June 2021 – Lionel Richie[23]
• 19 June 2021 – UB40 ft Ali Campbell and Astro[24]
• 20 June 2021 – RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World Tour[25]
• 3 July 2021 – Snow Patrol[26]
• 7 July 2021 – Duran Duran[27]
• 9 July 2021 – Keane[28]
• 10 July 2021 – Olly Murs [29]
• 25 July – Lewis Capaldi[30]
• 17 August – Westlife[31]
• 20 August 2021 – Nile Rodgers and Chic[32]

References

1. "Open Air Theatre Scarborough". Theatres Trust. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
2. "Scarborough's Open Air Theatre". Scarborough Evening News. 11 January 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
3. "Borough News Winter". Scarborough Borough Council.
4. "Paul Reveals Vision for Open Air Theatre". Scarborough Evening News.
5. "Scarborough OAT Concerts Confirmed For Next Ten Years". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
6. "Record-Breaking Summer Season For Scarborough OAT". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
7. "OAT Brings £7m Boost to Scarborough". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
8. "Start Of Scarborough Sparkle Event At The Open Air Theatre". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
9. "Good News for Scarborough's Open Air Theatre". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
10. "Queen opens Scarborough open air theatre". BBC News. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
11. "Jess Glynne Wows Scarborough OAT". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
12. "James Arthur Plays A Stormer At Scarborough OAT". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
13. "Britney Rocks Scarborough". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
14. "Biffy Clyro to rock Scarborough Open Air Theatre". Scarborough Open Air Theatre. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
15. "Cliff Richard Returns to Scarborough". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
16. White, Jack. "Kylie Minogue announces summer 2019 outdoor shows". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
17. "Kylie Minogue Coming to Scarborough". Yorkshire Coast Radio. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
18. "Snow Patrol". Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
19. "Mixtape featuring Marc Almond, Heaven 17 and Living in a Box". Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
20. "Little Mix". Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
21. "McFly". Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
22. "Louis Tomlinson". Scarborough Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
23. "Lionel Richie To Play Scarborough Open Air Theatre". This is the Coast. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
24. "Boost for Open Air Theatre as Tickets Released for UB40 and Keane". This is the Coast. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
25. "World's Biggest Drag Show Coming to Scarborough". This is the Coast. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
26. "Snow Patrol To Play Scarborough OAT Saturday 3rd July 2021". This is the Coast. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
27. "Duran Duran Booked for Scarborough Open Air Theatre". This is the Coast. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
28. "Boost for Open Air Theatre as Tickets Released for UB40 and Keane". This is the Coast. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
29. "Olly Murs Returns to Scarborough Open Air Theatre". This is the Coast. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
30. "Lewis Capaldi To Return To Scarborough In July 2021". This is the Coast. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
31. "Westlife to Perform Exclusive North of England Show at Scarborough Open Air Theatre". This is the Coast. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
32. "Nile Rodgers and Chic Return to Scarborough Open Air Theatre". This is the Coast. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.