Back in 2016, a group of enthusiastic theatre lovers attended an outdoor Shakespeare play at a winery.
We thought, “We could do something like that!”—and the idea for Blue Sky Theatre was born.
But how to make it a unique experience? We chose to stage a variety of plays (but not Shakespeare) in beautiful gardens instead. Our ethos has been to keep it simple, with a picnic atmosphere to create a charming, intimate experience.
Our first production was our own adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. We gathered a dedicated cast and crew (many playing multiple roles) and secured venues with help from Open Gardens SA.
Pat and Gerald Uppill graciously hosted our debut in the Victor Harbor area. The audience booked tickets in good faith, and everyone involved awaited opening night with anxious excitement.
The moment we heard the first laugh, we collectively breathed a sigh of relief—and the response was even better than we hoped!
Joshua Coldwell and James Edwards had the crowd in stitches with their memorable Labrador impressions. To this day, we still hear, “We’ll never forget the dogs!”
Since that first show, we’ve focused on bringing classic stories to gardens, giving them a fresh update to make them fun and accessible for modern audiences.
Many Restoration comedies are terrific fun outdoors, but they can be long and tricky to follow, so we adapt them. We’re proud to help more people enjoy plays that might otherwise feel dated or intimidating.
It’s a joy to set the stories in new eras—like The School for Scandal with 1950s style, She Stoops to Conquer set in the roaring twenties, or placing Nikolai Gogol’s classic comedy The Government Inspector on a sun-soaked Greek island in 1937.
Another standout moment came during One Man Two Guvnors, when actor Lyn Wilson was called up on stage and ended up with a custard pie in her face—most people thought she was a genuine audience member! Truly, she was a great sport.
The cast and crew have become a family over the last ten years. Many have appeared in multiple shows, and this year, several members of the original cast have returned to perform in Pride and Prejudice.
Each year we introduce new local talent to the ensemble, giving them the unique experience of performing outdoors— January rain has washed us out occasionally, but the show has gone on in heat, cold, drizzle and even with a bush fire as a backdrop.
Making yourself heard is a definite skill, especially if you have to contend with barking dogs, aeroplanes and birds. Cockatoos are the worst (one venue owner offered to get his gun out as a solution!), while Kookaburras have an uncanny knack of laughing at just the right moment!
Blue Sky Theatre is a not-for-profit organisation using theatre in the garden performances to fund worthwhile causes. In the past ten years, with your help, we’ve donated more than $240,000 to local charities, venues and their foundations.
Every show has been a sellout, and we are genuinely grateful for your fantastic support.
We can’t wait to share even more with you in the next ten years!