News, events and schools' information for families across Bath and West Wiltshire

A summer season of theatre and music events at the Town Gardens Bowl in Old Town Swindon is set to include fantastic family theatre, great comedy, classic plays and stunning music, ranging from The Wind In The Willows and A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the sounds of Jimi Hendrix and Abba!

The performances kicks off on 19 June with the acclaimed Lord Chamberlain’s Men performing Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy, As You Like It, presented as Shakespeare first saw it performed – in the open air, by an all-male cast and with Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is just one of the classic plays on show

Then you can look forward to John Godber’s classic comedy Bouncers, the timeless The Importance of Being Earnest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jane Eyre and the family favourite, The Wind In The Willows.

And this year, the summer season is set to be even bigger!  Following the success of My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival in 2021, South Swindon Parish Council is delighted to be supporting this event again in 2022.  This festival, taking place on Saturday 16 July in the Town Gardens, complements the brand-new Music At The Bowl season at the Bowl. 

Classic pop with 21st Century Abba

There’a also a wonderful range of musical treats for all tastes, launching on Saturday 25 June with A Night At The Opera, which promises an evening of operatic classics and songs from the shows that’s guaranteed to leave you singing all the way home. Then there’s the Voodoo Room playing the legendary music of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Cream, before 21st Century ABBA performs later in the season.

Cllr Neil Hopkins, Chair of South Swindon Parish Council’s Leisure, Environment and Amenities Committee, said, “With the opening of our first Theatre At The Bowl performance less than a month away, I’m delighted to announce that Old Town Business Association is offering a special offer our Season Ticket in conjunction with their Friends of Old Town discount card – you can find out more on their website, www.thisisoldtown.com/friends.  The first theatre performance is As You Like It, with The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, who are a top-rated theatre company, producing work in the same way it was done in Elizabethan times.  We look forward to welcoming them to our iconic Town Gardens Bowl. 

The Wind In The Willows – a children’s classic

“Following this, the summer season at the Town Gardens Bowl includes A Night At The Opera, Bouncers, Voodoo Room, The Importance Of Being Earnest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jane Eyre, 21st Century ABBA and The Wind In The Willows. We cannot wait to see theatregoers from last year at the Town Gardens this summer, plus, hopefully, lots of new ones!”

Performances will take place as below:

As You Like It – Sun 19 June – 6.30pm

Opera Sulis – Sat 25 June – 7pm

Fri 1 July – Bouncers – 7.30pm

Sat 16 July – My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival

Sat 23 July – Voodoo Room – 7.30pm

Sat 30 July – The Importance Of Being Earnest – 7.30pm

Fri 5 – Sat 6 August – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – 7.30pm

Fri 19 August – Jane Eyre – 7.30pm

Mon 29 August – 21st Century ABBA – 7.30pm

Fri 9 September – The Wind In The Willows – 7pm

Tickets are available from www.theatreatthebowl.co.uk and www.musicatthebowl.co.uk