Sterts turns 40 as Cornwall previews its Lorient showcase

A new piece built on the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor gets its first performance this summer, and the people who see it before anyone else will be sitting on amphitheatre benches near Liskeard.

On Sunday 26 July, Sterts Arts and Environmental Centre hosts a Cornish preview of the acts chosen to represent Cornwall as guest nation at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, one of Europe’s biggest Celtic festivals. The ten-day event in Brittany draws around 950,000 visitors, and the Sterts audience will be among the first to see the musicians and dancers from Celtic Male Ensemble, Senyans Kernow and Kekezza before they cross the Channel in August. The showcase also carries the premiere of that major new commission, inspired by the Cornish legend of the Mermaid of Zennor.

It arrives in the middle of a milestone year for the venue itself.

40 years, run on sunshine

Sterts marks its 40th year as a charity in 2026, and the whole summer season runs on renewable energy. The solar array fitted to the Barn Theatre during its 2024 redevelopment now powers the entire programme, which puts professional touring companies and homegrown Cornish talent on the same stage. The line-up ranges from award-winning theatre and outdoor Shakespeare to community playreadings, choirs and family shows.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Sterts this summer to enjoy the best of performances, nature and creativity,” said Lucy Donald, General Manager at Sterts. “Our programme is packed with local talent, community performances and gigs for the whole family to enjoy.”

Alongside the shows, visitors can drop into Our Stories Our Sterts, an exhibition marking four decades of the venue’s history. There is also a set of willow sculptures co-created by local artist Jasmine Fassenfelt with children from Upton Cross Primary School and members of the community. The onsite bar serves Cornish drinks and ice cream, and parking is free.

Community performers open the season

The season opens on Saturday 18 July with Echoes of Gonamena, a dramatic playreading at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Produced by The Arc and written by Simon Parker, it is directed by Olivier Award-winning Kneehigh director Simon Harvey, with original cast members reuniting for a one-off performance marking 20 years since Cornwall’s mining sites gained UNESCO World Heritage status.

On Thursday 23 July at 7.30pm, The Minack Acting Academy stages Animal Farm, George Orwell’s classic brought to life by young performers from Liskeard and Callington.

Sunday 26 July brings the Cornwall at Lorient showcase, and July closes with Teylu Theatre Company’s Calendar Girls on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 July, with a gala event on the 30th. The community production raises funds for the Plymouth Radiotherapy Development Fund at Derriford Hospital.

Live music through the summer

On Saturday 25 July at 7.30pm, The Americana Revue pays live tribute to the greatest American singer-songwriters, fronted by X Factor finalist Ben Mills.

On Sunday 9 August, The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth play a Summer Concert, an afternoon of music from the Torpoint-based band.

And on Wednesday 19 August at 7pm, with a workshop at 4pm, An Audience with Ric Sanders and Vo Fletcher offers an intimate evening with the Fairport Convention violinist and his longtime musical collaborator.

Theatre and family shows

British Touring Shakespeare return on Friday 24 July with Romeo and Juliet, with picnics from 6pm and the Barn Theatre’s bifold doors open for an indoor and outdoor experience.

Cornish favourites Miracle Theatre bring a comic, surreal retelling of Henrik Ibsen’s morality tale Peer Gynt on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August.

For younger audiences, Squashbox Theatre’s Myths and Monsters mixes puppetry, storytelling and live music on Tuesday 18 August, exploring the creatures of Greek mythology.

The season closes on Sunday 23 August with Holmes and Watson: The Curious Case of the Masked Magician, a mystery-comedy from Peter Clifford and The Great Baldini set in the golden age of magic.

Before you go

Sterts sits in Upton Cross, six miles from Liskeard, eight from Callington and ten from Launceston, within easy reach of the A30 and A38. The four-acre site started life as a pig farm and is now home to the 400-seat Barn Theatre, the Sturrock Studio and a Community Hub.

The Barn Theatre keeps its original amphitheatre bench seating, so a cushion is a good idea. It is wind and rain proof but not heated, which means dressing for the weather. Free onsite parking includes disabled spaces, with two EV charging points added from January 2026, and there is level access to the top of the Barn Theatre seating and the Sturrock Studio.

Tickets and full details for every show are on the Sterts website.