Allen Elizabethan Theatre, Open-air theatre in Ashland, United States.
The Allen Elizabethan Theatre is an open-air theatre in Ashland with a trapezoidal main stage featuring intricate balconies and windows. The seating area holds around 1,200 spectators arranged in ascending arcs up the hillside.
The theatre was built in 1959 following designs by Richard L. Hay and incorporates the exact stage dimensions from London's 1599 Fortune Theatre. This design connects modern construction with historical proportions from the Elizabethan stage era.
The theatre stages Shakespeare's works and modern plays performed by actors who engage with the history of classical English theatre. Visitors experience how contemporary interpretations sit alongside traditional works on the same stage.
The venue sits on a hillside, so comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes are recommended to reach the ascending seating areas. Sightlines are good from most seats, and the roof provides weather protection while the sides remain open.
Before each performance, an actor raises a flag through the gable window to announce the start of the show, a tradition since the theatre opened. This ritual echoes old stage customs and creates a special moment before the curtain.
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