Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) re-opens its gates this April for its ninth summer season. Will Mytum, BOAT general manager, said: “As Sussex’s only permanent outdoor venue, BOAT occupies a unique position in the local theatre ecosystem. With an open-access programming policy, opportunities are afforded to local, national and international artists, all of whom contribute to a diverse and varied programme.br “Last year’s season saw record-breaking figures as 24,500 audience members visited a total of 146 performances across the summer. This year, BOAT aims to build on its ever-increasing popularity with dozens of original productions, including work from several new companies such as Tethered Wits, The Last Baguette and Circo Pitanga.