Back in June, the Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre announced a summer season bringing theatre, comedy and live music to outdoor venues right across the islands. With the season now drawn to a close, the numbers confirm what audiences told us on the night – our 2026 season has been a resounding success.
Across the outdoor summer shows, total audience numbers reached 1,784 people, spread across St Mary’s, Tresco, St Martin’s, St Agnes and Bryher.
The season in numbers
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Ha Hum Ah) — 418 people across St Mary’s, Tresco and St Martin’s
Peer Gynt – A Comedy of Terrors (Miracle Theatre) — 365 people across St Mary’s and Tresco
The Comedy of Errors (The Festival Players) — 437 people across St Mary’s and Tresco
The Wizard of Oz (Ian Kennedy Productions) — 327 people on St Martin’s
Camel Rock — performed on St Agnes, Bryher, Tresco and St Mary’s
CScape – Wipe Out — performed at the Five Islands Academy
The programme reached five islands over the course of the summer, underlining our commitment to behind bringing professional theatre to some of the most remote communities in the country.
What audiences said
The figures only tell a part of the story – it’s the reactions from audiences that tell the rest.
The Scarlet Pimpernel, Tresco:
“Excellent light hearted fun on a beautiful evening, splendid set, so inventive and an ambitious script for three actors working very hard.”
“Amazing, we need more theatre on Scilly. The actors are fantastic and really drew you into the dialogue.”
Camel Rock, Bryher:
“Super nice visual arts and engaging story.”
The Wizard of Oz, St Martin’s:
“A very energetic company. Amazing costume change for only four people. Good diction and humour. Good audience participation.”
The Wizard of Oz, St Mary’s:
“Absolutely brilliant! Lively, fun, engaging and very creative. Would 100% come again. Kids, teens and adults loved it.”
Rough Island Band, St Mary’s:
“Such an amazing privilege to hear such talented musicians live. It is essential that these events continue.”
“As visitors to the island it was very special to experience a taste of island life through song and storytelling.”
The Comedy of Errors, Tresco:
“Always very impressed by Abbey Garden Shakespeare, look forward to it every year.”
A taste of what’s to come
As Lydia Bassett, Director of the Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre, said when the season was announced, there’s something distinctive about watching live performance on Scilly – it’s relaxed, welcoming, and bringing communities together in a way that feels unique to the islands.
The season forms part of a wider cultural programme running while the Museum and Cultural Centre’s new home — the Grade II listed Town Hall on St Mary’s — undergoes renovation ahead of its spring 2027 opening. Until then, events like these continue to give islanders and visitors alike a flavour of the year-round cultural offer to come.
With more events still to be announced for the remainder of the year, momentum continues to build towards the Cultural Centre’s opening.
