Minack Theatre
Minack Theatre
5
About
This open-air theatre is dramatically situated on the cliffs at Porthcumo, near Land's End, and hosts a season of plays and musicals from March to November.
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  • Tara
    Ampfield, United Kingdom15 contributions
    A lovely little trip to a beautiful location
    Me, my partner and puppy visited whilst staying in lands end. I’m really pleased we finally did it after missing out last time due to covid restrictions. It’s a lovely little gem. Doesn’t take too long about 30-45 minutes if you read the literature in the museum and to walk about but it was worth it. The architecture and engineering here is a wonder especially when you consider when it was first built. A really beautiful place and stunning views.
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 2, 2023
  • David W
    Wedmore, United Kingdom83 contributions
    Simply amazing
    We visited on a simply wonderful sunny February day and I have to say this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited in the world. A fascinating and historic place to just sit and lap up the beauty. We will return to watch a performance without a doubt. Not much more to say really apart from this must be on your bucket list
    Visited February 2023
    Written February 18, 2023
  • Lora D
    17 contributions
    Breathtaking views!
    If you are visiting Cornwall then this is well worth a visit! It is amazing and the views are breathtaking! On a clear day it feels like you could be abroad. We have been here before, about 10 years ago and watched a performance, which we highly recommend if you get a chance too. While visiting the area again recently we decided to go back during the day so our children could visit and they found it fascinating too. My only negative is that this cost us around £27 for 2 adults and 2 children (one who is autistic) and we were there barely an hour as the cafe was full, so it is quite expensive for how little time we spent there.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written March 5, 2023
  • Dave Mather
    Darley Dale, United Kingdom19 contributions
    Magical place :))
    A very interesting place with friendly and informative staff. If you don't visit here when in Cornwall you will miss out. We didn't see a show as we were at the wrong time of year, however this is a great place just to visit the vistas are excellent and well worth a look. Its also worth knowing that there are a lot of steps so if you find steps a bit of a chore then have a good think prior to visiting.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 20, 2023
  • Shirley C
    Peak District, United Kingdom3 contributions
    What a legacy
    This place is amazing, I saw a program on tv about the lady who built it, one stone at a time and couldn’t wait to see it in real life. Unfortunately we were not there at the time there was any show on but we were able to still have a wander around. Lots of steps, so wear safe comfy shoes, the views are unbelievable, and the stones all have special meanings, it really is something very special and is worth a visit if you are anywhere near.
    Visited November 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 28, 2023
  • Nicky D
    London, United Kingdom86 contributions
    Beautiful spot
    What a beautiful location. Watched Giants, which was a decent little show. Theatre is a pain to get to up a steep thin road. Item’s expensive inside so take stuff with you. Left early to avoid the traffic.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written April 2, 2023
  • Z1108GArichard
    7 contributions
    A must if you are visiting Cornwall
    An absolute must do if you are in Cornwall. Watched the "Massive tragedy of Madame Bovary". Stunning venue, stunning performance, laughed for start to finish. Only four actors so many parts would have been easy to get confused but not a bit of it. Also a shout out to the staff who were courteous and helpful. All in all a five star event Thank you
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 5, 2023
  • Stephen M
    Portsmouth, United Kingdom117 contributions
    AMAZING
    We visited the Minack Theatre and were greeted by the very friendly staff. We were notified that there was a free performance by Mark, who would give a history of the construction of the theatre, acted out in the character of Billy Rawlings, Rowena Cade’s gardener, who helped construct the theatre. His performance was brilliant and really made the visits extra special. This is an absolutely fantastic theatre and well worth a visit. It defines the human spirit and endeavour. What heroine Rowena Cade was.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 8, 2023
  • PandyPandora
    Harpenden, United Kingdom913 contributions
    Minack Theatre - Porthcurno, Cornwall
    The most amazing place with fabulous views. It is an open air theatre built into the cliff in West Cornwall (a few miles from Lands End). You can book tickets for a show or visit the theatre when there is no show running. You need to pre-book timed tickets as it is a popular place to visit. The car park is small so you are asked not to arrive before your ticket time and to leave promptly when you return to your car so someone else can have the parking space. There is a small gift kiosk at the entrance and a cafe on site. They have done a good job of making this part of the site accessible. We hope to return in the future to see a show.
    Visited March 2023
    Written April 10, 2023
  • Gregg W
    9 contributions
    Just superb!
    The production was incredible. The children in the cast who battled with the elements of rain and crashing waves were very impressive. Our 6 year old laughed all the way through the production. Just as impressive was the way the management dealt with our mother-in-law's error of booking our group of 11 in on the wrong day! Oops! Nonetheless, the staff compassionately accomodated us and we had a wonderful time! Highly recommended attraction. Thank you. We will be back.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 12, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
5,616 reviews
Excellent
4,673
Very good
686
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Poor
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66

Tony S
Exeter, UK6 contributions
Mar 2020
We have visited the Minack before and enjoyed performances there. As we were in the neighbourhood today we thought it would be nice to go and have lunch in the cafe. Oh dear!

We were haughtily told that we could not access the cafe without each paying £6 to enter the Theatre grounds. We did not want to visit the Theatre itself just have a bite of lunch. £18 for three of us to go in for soup of the day seemed rather excessive and I don’t think the staff on duty understood my bewilderment at this madness. If they had been busy perhaps I could have understood but on a cold misty rainy day I would have thought they would have welcomed the business.

Fortunately we had a very warm welcome at the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum with a pleasant lunch and no entry fee for the privilege.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're sorry to read this review. This policy is an issue for us as we understand that it appears illogical to a visitor that we charge customers to use our cafe, even on wet, unpleasant winter days. This is a policy we discuss frequently, however, it remains the position that the majority of our visitors feel our entrance charge represents good value for money to explore our site. We are sorry that the staff member's attitude was 'haughty' - we will seek to address this with the team in the shop. We're delighted that you enjoyed a good lunch at PK Porthcurno and hope you enjoyed your visit to their fascinating attraction.
Written March 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ZFairclough
Hastings, UK7 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
We were amazed by Minack Theatre - an impressive venue with incredible view! We went for a day to walk around the gardens and theatre, but would definitely recommend going to see a show as we managed to watch rehearsals for that evening which was amazing to see and get a feel of what it would be like during the show!
We also had our young Labrador with us, but the combination of tight walk ways, steep steps and an excited puppy did not go too well. Thankfully the staff were really accommodating and let us go back out of the theatre and come back in so we could make the most of our visit.
The staff were all very friendly and tried to make the theatre as safe as possible regarding the covid rules.
Written September 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Denrossa
Salisbury, UK83 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We visited the Minack theatre for the first time on the 8th October.
Beautifully kept man made theatre with stunning views looking over to Porthcurno beach and beyond.
Our admission of £10 each included a short play/show by an actor called Mark Harandon, who played ‘Billy’, who back in the 1930’s built this whole theatre by hand. This play made our visit. It was brilliant. Funny, informative and very interesting. Marks gone to great lengths in re searching way back in the 1930’s to give us all a cracking insight into the history of this world famous place. The play is called ‘moving heaven and earth.’ It lasts around 45 minutes and is shown in intervals throughout the day. Without this play, admission in £6 each.
The gardens are all also well maintained.
This is how a historic landmark in Cornwall should be looked after. Lands end take note!!! Highly recommend!
Written October 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elaine H
Dawlish, UK7 contributions
Aug 2020
A place I have wanted to visit in a long time. myself and two friends went to see a production of Eductaing Rita, first theatre visit since lockdown, with Stephen Tompkinson and Jessica Johnson. I had seen this production in Bath and they had shortened it slightly to allow for the performance running completely through rather than having an interval due to social distancing still being in place. The production was excellent and unless you are familiar with the script you would not know were they had cut bits. We arrived to a well organised carpark regime and then joined a socially distnaced well organised queue to enter the theatre. The front of house staff were letting in a few people at a time and liaising with other staff at the part of the theatre the tickets were booked for to organise the seating on arrival. We were lucky with the weather it was beautiful. The venue is amazing with views to die for. All patrons were happy and socially distanced as is required with no problems.
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Little_Rowse
Nottingham, UK78 contributions
Sep 2020
We booked tickets to the theatre months before our visit which ended up being on the second day of the new covid rules (groups of 6 people max.) and before we even entered we were BARKED at by Anne, threatening that if there were more of us we wouldn't be allowed in. Why was she lecturing us about this when we knew the restrictions and there were 6 of us and not one person more?! Totally pointless and RUDE. Oh! We also got a telling off because there were people in there still from the hourly slot before ours. How is that our fault?! Ridiculous.

It wasn't just us that were barked at around the theatre, we would see other guests getting told to move along and go different ways. Maybe the theatre should in fact put in the necessary precautions such as arrows on the floor so people know "which way" they should go?! Of every place I've been to during these covid times, the Minack Theatre is one of the only places that should indeed have arrows to direct people in a certain direction. Alas, they did not have any arrows! Silly. As a guest you are blamed for their own incompetence. It is a total maze in there so people are just going any way they wish, and rightly so! We would get told off like school children for standing around and admiring the views. It didn't help that there were rehearsals happening for a show opening that night, so people wanted to listen and watch the talent at the top before taking a seat. We were told to "shut up" when the rehearsals were happening.. I'm sorry but why should we? How were we to know that this would be happening when we booked months in advance?
On exit, Anne barked at us again for no reason. She should have some decorum and respect for people! Power trip or what?!
We visited in September 2020 so the theatre had long enough to prepare for the social distances rules. As far as I'm aware it was open all summer so they must've had these issues every day? It can't be that hard to stick down a few arrows? Hopefully they have added these now to avoid more upset guests, but I highly doubt it.

Honestly, the theatre is beautiful, but I wouldn't recommend you visit during "covid times". Wait a couple of years if you have to, I can imagine the experience would be much more pleasant when life has returned to normality.
Written October 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to review us. We're sorry you felt that you were spoken to in an inappropriate manner by members of our team. We have had no other complaints about our decision not to enforce one way routes around the theatre. We felt one way routes would be impractical as some of our steps are harder to navigate than others and visitors needed to be free to choose. In general this has been really well received by visitors and people have been happy to take their time and respect other visitors within the theatre, indeed yours is the first negative review about how visitors move around the Minack. The day you visited we had a dress rehearsal in the afternoon. This did mean that we moved visitors around more than we normally would as we were keen to allow the visitors to watch the rehearsal, but we needed to ensure that this was safe in terms of social distancing for all visitors. As people were going to stay longer than usual watching the rehearsal we were going to end up with more visitors on site than usual and therefore we had to be more proactive as a staff team to make sure everyone was safe. We did try to encourage visitors to sit down in the auditorium seating areas rather than stand on the terraces which causes congestion. We have 'respect social distancing' signage in these areas where visitors tend to stand which have generally worked well through the season. Once again, we're sorry we got it wrong for your visit on this occasion.
Written October 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

chrissieb94
Dorset, UK2,095 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
This was the highlight of our visit to Cornwall. We prebooked tickets for a morning tour around the theatre and gardens and a matinee show. Car parking is on site and our entrance was timed. We could wander around at our leisure enjoying the beautiful gardens and magnificent structure of the theatre. The Minack was built by Rowena Cade and opened in 1932. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance of ‘Billy Rawlings her gardener’ giving us a history of its building and early days. Then we sat and had lunch from the Takeaway Coffee Shop before going back outside to wait for entrance to the matinee performance. The show was ‘Oh Mary!’ A one woman show based on the life of Mary Bryant and portrayed by Bec Applebee. A superb performance which showed every human emotion. Staff ensured groups were sitting 2m apart. We had fantastic seats at the front. Remember to take your own cushions currently. It was a very hot and sunny afternoon and we were glad of cold drinks from the takeaway. A brilliant day all round! We thoroughly recommend that you visit!
Written September 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tracy
16 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
What a fabulous experience ! The weather was glorious and sun cream and a hat is a must.

Due to COVID restrictions, tickets are just at fifty percent capacity and no doubt this made the visit even more pleasant as we were well spread out during the performance.
Don’t turn up thinking you can take pictures without a ticket because you will be turned away as indeed quite a few people were and the only other view of the theatre is from the sea .

Parking was ample in a close by field and free for ticket holders . Watch the roads as you approach as it does come to a standstill as you climb the hill due to cars attempting to get down and up a single track road .
A memory made for life .
Written July 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MarcusHurley
Calne, UK9,527 contributions
Jun 2021
The drive to Minack was interesting and I can't really blame my sat nav this time. Cornish roads are just rubbish, stupidly narrow, often with people parked at the side of the road making them almost impassable and stone walls and banks meaning that squeezing into the edge for someone to go past is likely to be quite expensive!
The ticket guy at Minack was great - when we handed him our booked ticket he said it was for next week and did we have a booking for today? Our faces must have been a picture as he started laughing, bloody excellent and kudos to you, ticket guy! We parked and sat at the picnic benches having a coffee and cake before walking down the terraces that make up Minack Theatre. The theatre was started in 1931 by Rowena Cade who bought the Minack headland in the 1920's for £100 and built the theatre over the next 60 years.
On a clear day the views are quite spectacular and it is a setting to rival any of the Greek theatres we've seen. It goes without saying that today wasn't a clear day but we spent around an hour walking around and looking at the plants and views. We didn't see any signs about the exhibition on the building of Minack but I guess it was closed due to covid.
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

scarlettglen1
London, UK29 contributions
Jul 2021
My partner and I saw a Winter's Tale on a gorgeous summer night in July. The play was superbly performed, with touching and hilarious moments, made all the more enjoyable and authentic by the engaged audience (brought in to the drama on occasion by the cast) and the relaxed atmosphere, with people able to move around throughout. Not only was the play excellent, but watching the sun set behind the performance was really rather magical, I would highly recommend visiting and sincerely hope I can do so again soon.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lauren199
London77 contributions
Jul 2020
Oh my goodness I HIGHLY recommend visiting the Minack ! We visited just as lockdown restrictions were lifting so unfortunately did not see any performances due to the government restrictions. BUT this only means we absolutely will return and also it is still worth visiting even if you cant see any performances. We loved it here. The history is amazing/fascinating, the views incredible, the one way system perfect. The staff were brilliant, from parking, entering, inside and leaving. They are happy, welcoming, kind, professional and an absolute pleasure to meet.
We had an ice cream each and some drinks which is reasonably priced and all LOCAL produce. We could have stayed there all day. I would love to take a book and just enjoy the peaceful, calm atmosphere, listening to the waves.
The best escapism during these difficult and challenging times we live in!
Written October 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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