Statement about the Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival 2020

Statement about the Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival: Everyman 20 from the festival chair, Peter Harding-Roberts.

All ticket holders will shortly receive an email from Everyman Theatre and from Ticketsource regarding refunds and the opportunity to make a donation to Everyman Theatre.

It is with great sadness that I have to announce that Everyman Theatre has decided that we cannot proceed with the 2020 Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival. Rather than cancelling the productions and events we intend to postpone them till the summer of 2021.Whilst recognising that there are many in much worst predicaments I find this a heart breaking decision, having been involved with the Festival since its inception in 1983. But, we simply have no choice.

Everyman Theatre is a charity run wholly by unpaid volunteers.Our Festival receives no outside funding or grants.Its survival year on year (this would have been the 38^th) is dependant entirely on ticket, bar and sundry sales. Despite being run by volunteers the festival gives employment to theatre professionals – Directors and Designers – and it now costs nearly £200,000 a year to stage.All tickets will of course be refunded, but Everyman Theatre is still facing inevitable significant losses due to this year’s festival being cancelled.

The Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival is one of the largest – if not the largest – single site open air theatre festivals in the UK.  To secure its future as the theatrical jewel in the crown of the Cardiff summer we are asking those who can to donate a portion of their refunded ticket monies so as minimise as far as possible this year’s losses. The link to our Just Giving page will be shared in due course.  

I very much hope to see all of you back with us next year.

Very best wishes to you all,

Peter Harding-Roberts

Chairman, Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival: Everyman 20

Everyman Theatre Cardiff Limited is a registered charity – 1082484