Scarborough Open Air Theatre

Scarborough Open Air Theatre (commonly abbreviated the SOAT or OAT) is an outdoor theatre in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. It was built in Northstead Manor Gardens in 1932, and originally closed in 1986 but was reopened in May 2010.

Renovation
In 2008, planning permission was received for a major renovation. The £3.5 million scheme to transform the Open Air Theatre was completed in May 2010.

When it reopened in 2010 the capacity of the theatre was 6,500 but this was increased to 8,000 in 2017 when the lake area was covered over.

Events
The venue stages a mixed entertainment programme including music concerts, opera productions and community events. Many British and international acts perform here.

During the World Cup 2010, all England football matches were shown live on a large TV screen for free.

In September 2017 music promoters Cuffe & Taylor signed a ten-year deal with the borough council to bring concerts to the venue for the next ten years.

90,000 people attended concerts at the venue in 2018 setting a new audience record for the venue and bringing an estimated £7 million to the local economy.

In December 2018 the venue was used to host the Scarborough Sparkle Christmas event with an ice rink and Christmas market.

On Saturday 23 July 2022, Irish pop band Westlife headed on with their "The Wild Dreams Tour".

Royal re-opening
The theatre was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on 20 May 2010.