In celebration of the art and interaction of outdoor performance

Whether for a fun singalong or tense historical tragedy, a trip to the theatre holds many attractions – the pleasure of dressing up for a night out, the prospect of watching talented actors tread the boards from the comfort of a well-positioned, comfortable viewpoint, the anticipation as the curtain rises and, of course, those interval refreshments. But there’s another type of theatre. It has no cosy hall, no protection from rain or sun, no plush velvet curtain, yet it still draws the crowds. Why? Because street theatre has just as much history, drama, talent and entertainment as any big-budget, luxury (well, sheltered from the elements, at least) spectacle. And clustered in small groups, following the action, street-theatregoers are soaking up a collective and age-old form of entertainment, which makes it equally, if not more, riveting.

Simon Pullum knows the allure of street theatre. He and his wife Jo are the founding members of the Cornwall-based Bash Street Theatre, an outdoor arts group whose remit is ‘to entertain’ and ‘make people smile and laugh’.

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