If I Told You Once

On Sunday, 12 July 2026, the Brighton Open Air Theatre is hosting a double bill from ThirdSpace Theatre. It is an interesting setup because while both productions share the stage at the Dyke Road Park venue, they are ticketed as separate events. ThirdSpace, which is a youth company that provides drama training for performers aged 5 to 25, has put together two distinct stories for the afternoon, both of which are suitable for audiences aged 5 and up.

The first piece, If I Told You Once, begins at 14:30. It follows the story of a girl who is critically ill and finds comfort in a collection of folktales from Ukraine, Africa, and the Middle East. The narrative focuses on the idea of hope being whispered to her through these stories. Following that at 17:00 is The Birds, an adaptation of the classic comedy by Aristophanes. This play explores the journey of two men who attempt to escape an oppressive society by flying away to find a more ideal place to live. Both plays offer different thematic approaches, providing a range of storytelling styles within the same afternoon.

If you are planning to head over to the theatre, keep in mind that the gates open one hour before each performance starts. Tickets are priced at £15.00 for standard entry, with a concession rate of £14.00 available for those who qualify. Since the venue is entirely outdoors, it is worth keeping an eye on the weather forecast as the date approaches, though the space is a familiar spot for those of us who spend time in Brighton during the summer months. The company has a history of creating work in real-world environments, and this performance continues that approach by utilising the open-air setting of the theatre. Whether you are interested in the folklore-based narrative of the first play or the satirical tone of the Aristophanes adaptation, the afternoon provides two distinct options for those looking to see local youth theatre in a park setting.