The Minack Theatre perches on the cliffs of the south Cornish Coast across from the beautiful beach of Porthcurno . In July 2019 we went to a performance at the Minack of the “Roses of Eyam” a play set in the Middle Ages about the village of Eyam in Derbyshire about the plague and how the village coped with its arrival and impact on the inhabitants. The full cast at the start of the play were decimated by the plague and i think at the end we had only 3 actors left!! The village had decided to isolate itself with neighbouring villages leaving food stuff at the gates to supporting their neighbours and their decision to try to halt the plague. We watched the second half of the play in the pouring rain.

Little did we know that the events portrayed in the play would shortly come to pass around the world when Covid arrived the following year.

This July the only play being performed that we could get to was a “period comedy”, London Assurance, and at Sterling 20 per ticket we decided to go. We arrived well in advance to get something to eat, enjoy the view and get a good position in the car park for ease of departure. Performance seating is in blocks and we chose as before to sit on the grassy terrace, Block B, – way more comfortable than a concrete bench alternative and still with great views of the play and the bay behind. Sadly about 30 mins before the play started, it did commence to drizzle – but – by the start of the play the weather had dried up and it was dry , if a little chilly for the whole performance.

Its really all about the location – the Minack sits looking down to the English Channel, waves can be heard rolling onto the rocks below and passing seals peer up at the lights and noise above. If you are visiting Cornwall and do like theatre then this is a wonderful place to come to enjoy live theatre.

Pre – performance
Audience assemble
Play begins and the weather has cleared
Night has fallen

As a foot note, if you do go to the Minack do take appropriate weather clothing to suit the situation, but it’s a fabulous place, we loved our return visit and the seal who popped its head out of the sea, to say gdday!!

Next Stop – the Lizard Peninsular, Coverack and the Village of Cadgwith Cove.