Curtain Theatre

I was one of the teachers on a recent high school field trip to the Curtain Theatre. You can’t beat the location for the views. The actors and staff were very knowledgeable and fun. The kids had a great time. Both students and adults learned a lot.
The only con is the access. The bus couldn’t handle the steep hills so the kids had to hoof it up the hills and get back in after the bus made the climb. Fortunately it was a lovely winter day so the kids were fine. The bus driver was okay too. :)

The Curtain Theatre is a wonderful, open-​air venue located on the shores of the Colorado River. A scaled-​down version of the Globe in London, the Curtain features a thrust stage and two floors of seating arranged in a semi-​circle around the stage. There are only two rows of seats per floor — so practically every seat has a good view. The whole place is constructed of sturdy (and slightly creaky) wood, features gas torches for light, and is by far the most atmospheric place in town to see Shakespeare.
Some things you should know before you go:
The drive to the Curtain involves driving down a very steep hill to get there, and up that same hill (likely in pitch black post-​show darkness) to get back. The narrow road is mostly paved, and involves some confusing intersections, and becomes gravel/​dirt close to the theatre end. Plan extra travel time so you can take it easy and drive safe.
The parking area and grounds around the theatre are not paved — just grass (and mud if wet) — so don’t wear your favorite stilettos! And it gets very dark, especially after the show, so you might want to consider bringing a flashlight so you can navigate the bumpy ground to your parked car without tripping or falling.
It’s open-​air, so dress for being outdoors for several hours! The seating area is covered, as is part of the stage, so a light rain shouldn’t dampen your experience. Heavy, blowing rain would be a problem, though.
The seats are hard wooden benches with no backs — nice and authentic, but tough for some to take. Bring a pad or pillow or stadium seat for your rear-​end if you need it.
You can bring food and drinks into the theatre, so bring some nibbles, or better yet, support your local theatre group and buy some concessions from the tent set up near the entrance.
There is no bathroom — just a few Port-​A-​Potties which are extremely dark inside during night performances. If you are one of those people who always need to go during intermission, bring your own TP and hand sanitizer.
None of these issues should stop you from going, because it’s a wonderful experience and you should go! Just be aware and plan accordingly. Have a great time!

I can’t believe I’ve lived in Austin for 3 years and just now found out about this theatre! It’s in a serene, beautiful setting right by the lake/​river, and while it was very cold during last night’s performance when I was there, I just loved that we have the option of going to an Elizabethan theatre right here in our hometown. Kudos to the builder and investors who made this art option possible for us. The Baron’s Men is the troupe that mounts productions here, and I applaud them for bringing us Shakespeare and other productions from that time period. Thank you! (The only thing that could be improved upon are perhaps permanent actual bathroom buildings, rather than porta-​potties.)
PS: Highly recommend you bring a seat-​back cushion with you or rent one there, the benches — while historically accurate — are not back-​friendly! Also bring blankets and dress warmly during chilly weather!