With all of our fingers crossed for a long, hot summer with warm nights, we take a look at this summer's serving of open-air theatre across Kent.

CHANGELING THEATRE

The Changeling Theatre's summer tour takes two productions around the county to some glamorous and diverse locations.

All's Well That Ends Well, being performed during the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, is one of the playwright's lesser performed plays, and She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith is a comedy of manners in the English language.

The tour runs from Friday, July 1 until Sunday, August 21, and starts and finishes at picturesque Boughton Monchelsea Place near Maidstone.

It goes to a range of venues, including open spaces such as Margate Beach and Dartford Central Park, gardens including Great Comp Garden, Belmont House and Gardens and Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, and castles including Upnor Castle and Walmer Castle.

Ticket prices and performance times vary. For details go here.

EMMETTS GARDEN, NEAR SEVENOAKS

Quantum Theatre brings Beatrix Potter’s timeless stories to the garden, for all ages. The show will be on Tuesday, August 2 at 4.30pm, with picnics from 3.30pm.

Much Ado About Nothing will see an all-male production at the garden too on Thursday, August 18, from 7.30pm, with picnics from 6.30pm.

For tickets to Beatrix Potter, call 0844 249 1895 and for Much Ado About Nothing call 0344 2491895.

HEVER FESTIVAL

An open air festival featuring theatre, music and comedy runs at Hever Castle throughout the summer until Sunday, August 28, with a Last Night at the Proms finale.

In its picturesque setting, it promises theatre for all ages, with the heartwarming adaptation of the Wizard of Oz on Wednesday, August 3.

Peter Pan will be staged on Thursday, August 11 and Alan Ayckbourn's Time and Time Again will run from Thursday, August 18 until Sunday, August 21.

For details, to book and a full programme, visit heverfestival.co.uk

SMALLHYTHE PLACE, TENTERDEN

Five different productions come to the former home of great Victorian actress Ellen Terry's enchanting gardens through the summer.

The Wizard of Oz will be staged on Saturday, July 16 at 6pm; The Merry Wives of Windsor on Thursday, July 21 at 7.30pm; Romeo and Juliet on Sunday, August 14 at 6pm and Gulliver's Travels will be on Monday, August 29 at 6pm. The Merry Wives of Windsor on Thursday, July 21 at 7.30pm will be staged indoors.

Tickets can be booked on the National Trust website here or by calling 0344 249 1895.

LEEDS CASTLE SUMMERTIME FESTIVAL

The castle’s summer extravaganza takes to the lawns for a series of open-air events, which begin with the Classical Concert on Saturday July 9 and end in September.

Open-air theatre shows include a Royal Navy Theatre Company production of Shakespeare’s popular Twelfth Night at 7.30pm on Saturday July 23. The doors open at 6.30pm.

On Friday August 5 and Saturday August 6, Immersion Theatre will be in residence to take visitors along the Yellow Brick Road with their production of the Wizard of Oz. Gates open at 5.30pm, with shows at 6pm.

On Saturday September 3, Chapterhouse Theatre Company round off the summer festival with their open-air show of Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles, creating the desolate Devon moors in the grounds of Leeds.

For tickets and to book, visit leeds-castle.com or call 01622 880008.