The season opens with a new production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, directed by the Open Air's artistic director Timothy Sheader, that begins performances May 24, prior to an official opening June 2, for a run through June 19. The production will feature Patrick O'Kane (last seen in the West End in the National Theatre production of War Horse as John Proctor), with Emma Cunliffe (seen in TV's "The Lakes" and currently appearing in Dumb Show at Kingston's Rose Theatre, from April 1-17) as Elizabeth Proctor. Veteran actor Oliver Ford-Davies (recently seen Gregory Doran's RSC production of Hamlet, playing Polonius) as Danforth, and Emily Taaffe (recently seen at the National Theatre in Nation) as Abigail. The production is designed by Jon Bausor, with Nick Powell as composer and providing the sound score, Liam Steele as movement director, Paul Keogan as lighting designer, Fergus O'Hare as sound designer, Sarah Bird as casting director, and Barbara Houseman as voice coach and text consultant. The rest of the cast includes Lucy May Barker, Charlie Cameron, Philip Cumbus, Anni Domingo, Susan Engel, Christopher Fulford, Patrick Godfrey, Christopher Hunter, Bettrys Jones, Paul Kemp, Geoff Leesley, Alexandra Mathie, Gary Milner, Ellie Paskell and Malcolm Rogers. The Comedy of Errors, which begins performances June 24 prior to an official opening June 29, for a run through July 31, is directed by Philip Franks, who was last represented in the West End by the transfer of his Chichester Festival Theatre productions of Ronald Harwood's Collaboration and Taking Sides. A story of mistaken identity, this new production is set in 1940’s Casablanca and features Daniel Weyman (TMA Award nomination for the title role of Nicholas Nickleby at Chichester Festival Theatre) as Antipholus of Syracuse alongside Daniel Llewelyn-Williams as Antipholus of Ephesus. Jo Herbert (Gwendolen in last year's production of The Importance of Being Earnest at the Open Air) plays his wife Adriana. Anna-Jane Casey (currently playing Velma in the West End production of Chicago) fronts a live swing band in the role of Courtesan. The rest of the cast includes Alister Cameron, Josh Cohen, Joseph Kloska, Christopher Logan, Christopher Ravenscroft, Sophie Roberts, Veronica Roberts, David Shaw-Parker, Richard Warrick and Faye Winter. The production is designed by Gideon Davey, composed by Matthew Scott, with movement direction by Quinny Sacks, lighting design by Zerlina Hughes, sound design by Fergus O'Hare and voice coach and text consultant Barbara Houseman.

The production of Macbeth, re-imagined for audiences aged six and over, begins performances July 3, prior to an official opening July 9, for a run through July 31. It is directed by Steve Marmion, who directed Headlong's production of Anthony Neilson's Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Loneliness, and transferred Rupert Goold's production of Macbeth to Broadway. The cast includes Golda Rosheuvel (RSC credits include Rupert Goold's The Tempest and Angels in America for Headlong) as Lady Macbeth, Simon Trinder (who played opposite Pete Postlethwaite in The Tempest at Manchester Royal Exchange and spent three years at the RSC) as Macduff and Josephine Butler as Banquo. The production has Gideon Davey as designer, Tom Mills as composer, Fergus O'Hare as sound designer, Vivienne Storry as casting director, Renny Krupinski as fight director and Barbara Houseman as voice coach and text consultant.

To book tickets, contact the box office at 0844 826 4242, or visit www.openairtheatre.com.