Everyman Summer Theatre Festival

The Everyman Festival (then called the Dyffryn House and Gardens Open Air Theatre Festival) began modestly in 1983 with a production of Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale, running for just a week.  In 1988 the Family Show was added with a production of The Selfish Shellfish.  In 1993 the festival further expanded with Everyman producing the Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance.

In 1995 major change was forced on the company when Dyffryn House closed.  However there was no break in the festival as Everyman was delighted to be invited to relocate to the National History Museum St Fagans.  The 1996 festival opened there under a new name, the Everyman Open Air Theatre Festival, but reverted at that stage to two shows A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Oh Merlin!

The hiatus in Everyman presenting a musical at the Festival was longer than some in the company might have anticipated and it was not until 2009 that the musical returned to the company’s repertoire, with a very well received production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers.  The 2009 Festival was undoubtedly Everyman’s most ambitious as we also presented King Lear – to critical acclaim – a play that many fully professional companies would shy away from and Toad of Toad Hall.  Additionally we were delighted to host an Opera Charity Gala in aid of The Elizabeth Evans Trust.

Not content to rest on our laurels this year we have added a fourth show and we are delighted to welcome back The Elizabeth Evans Trust with Songs from the Shows.  With a festival – now The Everyman Summer Theatre Festival – comprising 45 performances – our ambition remains boundless!

Peter Harding-Roberts
Festival Chairman