CRAWLEY'S Hawth theatre is defying the economic gloom and doom with a succession of summer sell-outs.
The venue is even managing to beat the downturn in the weather.
In line with a number of other venues across the south, the Hawth is finding that people still want to get out and have fun.
Chichester Festival Theatre is reporting a similar re
sponse to mixed weather and recessionary misery, with bookings holding strong.
Hawth spokeswoman Lorraine Gould said: "The sunshine may have gone away but The Hawth's summer season has been anything but a wash-out.
"More than 30,000 people have people have come through the doors for plays, musicals, family shows, concerts, comedy and more.
"Rob Brydon's stand-up show was a sell-out success with people flocking from across the UK to see him. These included a number from his home country of Wales who had followed him to Crawley for an evening of laughs.
"Rob also demonstrated his impressive voice with a tuneful rendition of Islands In The Stream, his number one Comic Relief single.
"In May the world-renowned Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed an afternoon of favourites to a packed house with Here Come The Classics.
"Then pianist Warren Mailley-Smith rounded off the 08/09 Classical Series to a full studio audience with his renditions of the works of Beethoven, Gershwin and Chopin.
"The success of the 08/09 season is going to be hard to beat but The Classical Series for 2009-2010 looks set to do just that, with the return of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Priest and Pascal Rogé plus many more.
"A sell-out crowd was wowed by The Shaolin Warriors in June as the 22 professional Kung Fu Masters took to the stage with a breathtaking extravaganza of rarely-seen feats of agility, strength and skill.
"More than 400 people filled The Hawth Amphitheatre for Illyria's magical twist on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in last week's sunshine."
The company will also be performing The Three Musketeers at Worth Park Gardens on Sunday August 9.
As for the Hawth, as part of their al fresco theatre selection Quantum Theatre will be bringing Alice Through The Looking-Glass to Goffs Park on August 27.
