The Green Theatre Lawn and Orangery

With three large terraces surrounded by clipped tapestry hedges and trees over 20 feet high, with the backdrop of the house and its rose covered facade, the West Green House Green Theatre is one of the most beguiling entertainment spaces in England. Here the garden’s summer lunchtime concerts are held, with its garden year culminating in a midsummer opera season.

Now in its twelth year, West Green House opera has a proud record. Its honorary patron, Yvonne Kenny, returns most years to perform, and visiting companies have included Drottningholm Slotts theatre, Sweden. From 2012, West Green House opera will commission a new production annually, and will welcome a production from Garsington opera whilst still confirming to invite the world’s best early music opera companies with productions so suited to this ambience. Seating around 300 people in terraced seating, it is completely covered on opera nights to become a small auditorium designed for West Green House by Simon Morray-Jones.

Adjacent to the Theatre Lawn are two of the oldest buildings at West Green. The Orangery dates from 1770 and is newly restored, retaining the patina of age on the walls. On opera nights it becomes a spectacular dining room for 15 people. The trophies on the wall are designed by Kenneth Turner and made from Victorian garden implements. Along the path is a tiny pavilion, a tomb to a spaniel who died in 1734. The poetry on the tombstone provides a gentle moment for reflection.

 

Garden tours
 
Select a garden for additional information and slideshow tour

The Green Theatre and Orangery The Dragon Garden The Alice Garden
The Green Theatre
and Orangery		 The Dragon Garden The Alice Garden
The Nymphaeum The Chicken Garden The Walled Garden
The Nymphaeum The Chicken Garden The Walled Garden
The Lake field The Five Bridges Paradise Garden
The Lake Field The Five Bridges The Paradise Garden
The Greenhouse The garden at night The Temple Garden
The Greenhouse The Garden at Night The Temple Garden