The Sheldon Open Air Theatre
Devon’s best-kept secret
Intimate, family-friendly, hassle-free, feel-good local nights out.
What makes Sheldon so magical?
Tucked away in the picturesque Teign Valley, the Sheldon Open Air Theatre is a hidden gem for music lovers looking for a great night out. With a capacity of 500, the venue is intimate and welcoming, nestling in a natural hollow.
As darkness falls, the amphitheatre transforms, enveloping the audience in a magical atmosphere. The combination of natural surroundings and live music makes for an enchanting experience.
The Sheldon Open Air Theatre promises family-friendly magical nights out under the stars.
The concerts help to raise funds towards the work of the Sheldon Retreat.
Your ticket buys you a patch of grass in our delightful natural amphitheatre – it may be nearly 50 years old but it’s still Devon’s best kept secret!
Choose between the grass terraces cut into the bank which form the main auditorium nearest the stage. For cheaper tickets there is also space on the steep grass bank behind.
Concert-goers with mobility difficulties can choose space on the easy access deck with a birds-eye view and adjacent to the supplementary carpark. Just talk to the team and we’ll sort out the best option to meet your needs.
Our concerts are held in the open air in English summers so the possibility of rain is a fact of life. Either buy premium ticket so you can get a refund on the day, or bring your brolly and your wellies and pretend it’s Glastonbury!
About the theatre
Ours is the only open air theatre in the world sited in the grounds of a retreat centre. Sheldon is a 40-bed Christian retreat run by a small resident community who host over a thousand resident visitors each year.
Theatre nights are something rather different (and louder!) from our normal fare. We bring the same attention to detail and the same commitment to giving our guests a great experience. Local volunteers assist the community on the night helping with carparking, ticketing, stewarding and lighting.
50 years ago there was just a muddy pond at the bottom of a bracken-covered hillside. The Sheldon team, volunteers and local builders have created a very special venue that we’re sure you will enjoy.
Ticket prices vary according to when you buy, where you sit
and whether you want the option of a refund.
Click to book your tickets here.
Further details of ticket types below, or call us on 01647-253916.
Main auditorium
These tickets buy you an unreserved space to sit on one of the grass terraces in the main auditorium. No chairs allowed, so just bring a mat or a cushion to sit on. If you are not able to walk down the steep gravel path or sit on the ground, contact us for a pass to the Easy Access Deck.
Early bird
Cheap
£17
(£13 for Quo-incidence)
✓
Must buy before 30th June
✓
No refunds or transfers unless the concert is cancelled
Advance
£24
(£18 for Quo-incidence)
✓
No refunds or transfers unless the concert is cancelled
✓
Available until day before concert
Premium
Fully refundable for any reason
£28
(£21 for Quo-incidence)
✓
Notify us for your refund (for any reason) before 10am on the day
Child
under 3s come free
£12
(£9 for Quo-incidence)
✓
must accompany paying adult
✓
Child ticket for under 14s
✓
Refund till 10am on the day
✓
Child ticket for under 14s
✓
‘buy’ a free ticket for under 3s
Grassy bank
The grassy bank is above the path, fairly steep and not terraced. You need to be reasonably agile, but you get to benefit from the cheapest tickets.
Early bird
Cheapest
£12
(£9 for Quo-incidence)
✓
Must buy before 30th June
✓
No refunds or transfers unless the concert is cancelled
Advance
£16
(£12 for Quo-incidence)
✓
No refunds or transfers unless the concert is cancelled
✓
Available until day before concert
On the day
£20
(£16 for Quo-incidence)
✓
Only available on the day. (No premium tickets for the back bank.)
Child
under 3s come free
£12
(£9 for Quo-incidence)
✓
must accompany paying adult
✓
Child ticket for under 14s
✓
Refund till 10am on the day
✓
Child ticket for under 14s
✓
‘buy’ a free ticket for under 3s