As you can see, this was an absolutely gorgeous day! We drove west from Penzance to Porthcurno, home of the Minack Theatre. The sun was bright, the sea was brilliant blue and there were swimmers and surfers on Porthcurno Beach.
The Minack Theatre was the vision and creation of one woman -- Rowena Cade. And what a vision it was! Entertainment in Cornwall in the '20s was pretty much do-it-yourself. Rowena organized a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in an open field in 1929. This was followed with another production the next year. Looking for a more permanent solution, Rowena looked at the rocky cliff on her property.
Today's theatre is miles beyond the first rough stage which was lit by battery-powered lights and car headlights.
The theatre season runs from May through mid-September though visitors are welcome throughout the year.
The theatre features plays, musicals, concerts and ballet. Special morning shows for children are offered during August.
"Minack" refers to a rocky place in the old Cornish language.
Above the theatre seating area, the cliffs are planted with plants which can survive and thrive through stormy winters and hot, dry summers.
There may have been swimmers in the water -- but we thought they were crazy! Though the sun was bright, we dressed for cool weather -- and were happy we did.
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