A summer of events has been announced at the iconic Town Gardens Bowl in Old Town.

Events have been held at the outdoor venue for the last few years, with this year’s schedule including comedy, theatre and music.

Councillors have previously said that regular use of the venue and its bowl amphitheatre are critical for its long-term survival.

This follows an effort by South Swindon Parish Council, who manage the Gardens, to sympathetically renovate the building and the area around it to preserve it for the future.

A spokesperson for the parish council said: “We're delighted to announce this Summer's events programme for the Town Gardens Bowl, which includes a mix of new productions and performances, along with the return of some old favourites.”

Old Time Sailor will kick off the programme on Friday, May 3 and is described as ‘an immersive experience of traditional seafaring music’, with sea shanties and singing and dancing.

The council has also announced that Supersonic Queen will be returning on June 7.

Supersonic Queen have been touring the UK collectively for over 10 years performing a magical tribute to Queen and aim to recreate the most thrilling live experience possible

On July 20 the Bowl will play host to its very own festival, My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad 2024, running all day.

It will feature a line-up of live music, and is in aid of Prospect Hospice.

There will also be live comedy, with stars as seen on television, including Joe Thomas famous from playing Simon in The Inbetweeners.

On the more highbrow end there will be La Bohéme on June 30 from Swindon Opera Collective, and Shakespeare’s Pygmalion on August 3.

Forging Fantastical are inviting talented storytellers from across the UK to perform stories from diverse cultures and regions, including the British Isles, Nordic and Inuit lands, amongst others.

The last event planned is on the August 17, with Forging Fantastical, a A one-day celebration of performance storytelling and folk music.

The art-deco style Bowl opened in 1936 and is one of only a handful of this type in the country. 

It was restored in 1994 to celebrate the Gardens centenary year and originally included a small rockery / water cascade with an ornamental pond at the front which has now been concreted over.

Book online at https://towngardens-swindon.co.uk/events