Went to the Lost Colony for the 3rd time in the past ten years- it did not disappoint!! The storytelling, the sunset on the sound, and thematics make for a unique experience every time! read more

I first saw The Lost Colony more than 50 years ago and loved it. My wife and I saw it again the night before last because she had never seen it. l've got to say it has changed a lot since I last saw it. There was a lot more emphasis on the Native Americans, and the colonists were largely treated as greedy while the Indians were all wise and good. The portrayal of Queen Elizabeth made her appear like a flighty, giggling girl rather than the tough English queen she was. All in all, it seems like the changes made to the original play were designed to appeal to the "woke" crowd, while downplaying the historic effort of a small group of English settlers to found a colony in a largely inhospitable wilderness. read more

One of the many highlights on our OBX vacation , From the breath taking venue to the spectacular show , this is a must see. Extremely captivating and def an incredible experience. read more

Everything about The Lost Colony is incredible and the ticket price is shockingly low given the production level. I was left thoroughly impressed. My mother-in-law told me it has come a long way from when she first saw it in the 1950s. For the fact alone that this show has been in production for so long (now in its 87th year) blows my mind. She told me Andy Griffith got his start in this play. It's a whole experience, from the parking lot where you walk down a path in the woods (they have a golf cart for those who need assistance, which was great for my MIL) to the theater area. There are areas for refreshments and the outdoor and the amphitheater is the perfect setting for a production that has music, spectacle (now with illumination effects as well). They even have wine and beer in addition to popcorn/snacks. And the acting is good. I will admit that the casting for Native Americans was a little funny, as most of them were clearly not of this descent (and one of the leads had a strong Southern accent, LOL). Costumes are on point and the set is very creative. I loved my time here. It was the perfect summer night in early August. read more

How is it my local friend and Yelp OBX Collection lists I looked at (5-7 lists) did not mention immediately to me/have The Lost Colony listed is beyond me. Maybe these lists were older as this performance has changed a lot. There was no lighting effects before, no elderly speaker adding to the story, and the play was 30 min longer before. The lighting told parts of the story better and in shorter form than the play trying to act out more scenarios to reasonably explain the story. Souvenir items were low selection but play was so good that it isn't a matter at hand. They had offered more in the past such as quality jewelry and I suspect this will change for more souvenir and trinket offerings in the future. The play is outdoors. The choreography and sometimes repetitive motions in contrast to the lighting assemblies flowed as if you were watching "entertainment on a huge tv screen" but you knew it was live and it made you feel you could truly enter their world if but only a moment. It reminds me of a more family friendly version of local Gunnar Montana productions in Philadelphia but without acrobatics. Lost Colony has built up their reputation through community, geography, and history. They ultimately have a bigger audience they can more easily build up and tap into with generally where as Gunnar - while of course open to all- has an lgbt focus. If I was allowed to take pictures during the play, I would have been more than happy to share with you. This play makes OBX a worthy destination to travel to from multiple states away or even international borders and you don't just come here only for quality seafood and the beach. Even though maybe this was a long drawn out play and not necessarily on someone's bucket list earlier on, it is now an underdog of a play bound to reach higher levels of popularity. read more

See all

I recently attended The Lost Colony play and found it most entertaining. I do have one observation. You tout the fact that all the Native American roles are portrayed by real Native Americans. I applaud this decision and wonder why it took so long. However, I was shocked and highly offended to see an African American woman portraying Queen Elizabeth. If you employ Native Americans to play Native Americans, shouldn't you employ women of European decent to play Queen Elizabeth? How would you feel about a white woman cast to play the role of Harriet Tubman? Actors playing well-known historical figures should always look as close as possible to the appearance of that person. Queen Elizabeth was a red-haired woman of about 50 years old in 1584. Whereas the woman cast to play Elizabeth was a lovely actress and did a great job, she just isn't right for the part. read more

The National Park next door is excellent. Well worth a visit. The outdoor drama about the Lost Colony is a thin shell of its former self. There's a "new era" presentation introduced in the last year or two. They've replaced a compelling drama with lights, dance, comedy, but nothing of substance. It's all thoroughly entertaining, but it's a lot like fast food. Nothing that stays with you for any length of time. Go next door to the National Park. The film there is excellent, and the Rangers know their history. read more

The Lost Colony - Main cast. Also well worth missing. - Performing Arts Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

See all

Spectacular performance, spectacular theatre! I've never seen an outdoor performance, and I'm certain that after seeing this one I would be disappointed with any other! The venue is beautiful. As soon as you arrive at the entrance, the area is beautiful. Huge trees, tons of parking. There was someone on a golf cart to drive guests to the theatre if they wish - if not, there is a little bit of a walk. There are vending machines, and concession stands with popcorn and even wine! My friend has a part in the Lost Colony, and watching her preform was honestly one of the coolest things ever! The actors and actresses were all great, and really did an amazing job. The lights, the sound, everything was just so great - I couldn't believe it! Once I found out how old this venue is, and how long this play has been going on, I was totally fascinated! Would recommend this to anyone, and looking forward to coming back. PS Wear bug spray, and bring some with you! It's extremely "buggy" because you are right on the water. read more

The Lost Colony - Talk about a picturesque venue - Performing Arts Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

Two stars because the actors did the best they possibly could with a sophomoric script devoid of story. The cast delivered an energetic performance and earned their applause, and I especially enjoyed the performances of this season's Queen Elizabeth and Eleanor Dare. The length of the play is about right, and Waterside Theatre is as magical a venue as you'll ever experience. Kids in the 7-11 age range will probably enjoy the way video is used in place of proper sets, but it's heavy-handed and overwhelms the acting. No question the show needed to be updated, especially in the way it portrayed the Algonquin people, but this script, with its bland wokeness, depicts both the indigenous people and the colonists as naive and smarmy. The poetry of Paul Green's original script has been replaced with an artless, incomprehensible mess that thumbs its nose at history. What used to be a spectacular pageant with 125 actors, singers, dancers and tech staff has been stripped to a few dozen actors. Most scenes lack a dramatic focus. But, for me, the most disappointing moments were (1) when I realized the Big Battle of old is now nothing but a lot of silly running around with glowy-eyed stick puppets, the purpose of which is mystifying--and not in a good way--and (2) the rushing through of the Final March, now not so final, because the final scene is now a melodramatic monologue by Governor White. The Lost Colony changes over the years, as it must, and I hope someday to see a more artistic, respectful, and rational version. read more

The performance was spectacular. The special effects were breathtaking. The use of the Native American animal imagery was perfect. The battles were exciting but appropriate for young kids. I've seen Broadway performances and this was at the level. The actors were wonderful. The story was beautiful. Can't say enough good things. read more

What a great performance by all that both acted in it as well as supported the performances. There is a long history to this play that I would encourage everyone to read about. No pictures or videos were permitted during the performance but took one with the program and stage in the background, I hope that was okay . The doors open 30 minute early and they serve snacks and have beer and wine which was much needed to help fight the heat. There are individual seats which was great as I was thinking it might be bench seating. There is an intermission to load back up. The acting and singing was great and I was happy to read that all Native American roles are played by Native Americans. Definitely worth experiencing while in the area. read more

I really enjoyed the show. The best thing about it is the unique outdoor venue. That elevated the experience. I loved some of the extra stage elements, like projecting onto the back drop, and the tall sailing ship behind the back drop. You gain a history lesson too! The actors costuming and make up were very good, and the cast was very talented. I would recommend it for any first time visitor (like my wife and I were). read more

I've been coming to The Lost Colony since I was like four years old back in the 1970s. I've seen probably about a dozen since then. My parents took me...I take my kids. It's an OBX tradition. This new rendition they've concocted is not only confusing, but they've removed the most spectacular parts. Gone is the native Indian totem tree dance. In it's place is a gypsy dance. I guess I missed the chapter about gypsies being on board the Roanoke expedition. They also took out the dramatic fight scenes...both among Manteo and Wancheese, and also the Indians against the colonists. There were no flintlock gun shots, (just fake sound effects) - instead the colonist fought the Indians with torches. There was no hand to hand combat with long guns and tomahawks. Just weird animal puppets bouncing around the woods and "the great Elk". (didn't realize we hunted all the elk to extinction in the Carolinas). The character story of drunk 'Ol Tom was completely hallowed out. The intriguing drama of his falling in love with the Indian woman Agona and the humor that ensued was deleted from the script. His whole dramatic statement of "Oh Roanoke, you've made a man out of me!" Lost to the entire point of it...and the audience left confused. In the past this theater was typically sold out (especially on weekends) and every seat was taken - we went the Saturday just before the 4th and only a third of the seats were filled. I guess this play would be an entertaining alternative for a family activity, but it's truly not what it was. read more

The lost colony was/has been advertised as/should be a outdoor drama. It has been turned into a part comedy, part musical, part mysticism, and part special effects show. What was iconic and mentally provoking seams cheap and superficial. The human struggle and endeavor to persevere has been taken away. What is left is a mere shell of what was an uplifting experience. I have seen this production at least once in every decade since the 60's. I have taken my children, nieces, nephews and now grandchildren. What made The Lost Colony exceptional was that it was something you could count on..... A very real triumph of the human spirit. Sadly..this pilgramige for me will end unless the show returns to it's roots. I am sure there are many other long-time patrons who feel the same. read more

I've seen the show many times over the past 30 years and this newest version was awful. The actresses portraying the Queen and Eleanor Dare did a great job but the rest of the drama was terrible. The "Disney-fied" version was hard to follow, somehow added a Gypsy fire dancing scene into Elizabethan England, and left out much of the nuance of the story. The history and struggle of the colonists and the natives is glossed over. read more

A cute play about the lost colony. Come with an open mind and you will be entertained! A few tips: bring a blanket to keep warm on chilly nights and apply bug spray before entering (the mosquitoes are out in full force). When I was there concessions were vending machines only. read more

Fun Factor - 5/5 Ease of experience - 3/5 My family went to see this play that heavily dramatizes the events of the Lost Colony. And the drama is good. If you want hard facts, make sure to visit when the park is open and the rangers will be happy to recount the facts. But in the meantime, you can enjoy a well-crafted drama in a unique setting. The special effects - particularly the animal spirits - are very inventive and clever - worthy of a star on their own. The set, costumes, and lighting are also marvelous, particularly the masts of a large ship that "sails" behind the stage. As best I could tell, they cast Native Americans in each role, which is great. The outdoor venue is great, and seeing the story at the site where it occurred is fun (although I recommend bringing a jacket - even in June it was pretty chilly). The acting is a little rough. But it's not like this is a Broadway production. The story and dialogue is also a bit rough, but my whole family including two young children were entertained and the applause the play received was well-earned. My biggest complaint is the length. This is about a two and a half hour commitment (with intermission), and the story is a bloated. Especially since this is a family friendly event, I'd love if they cut it down to 1.5 hours. But otherwise, I think this is a really fun thing to do in OBX. read more

Amazing show! Get the backstage tour! We loved our show and had seats in section 1 row H and it was the perfect view. read more

The Lost Colony - Performing Arts Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

Great experience for our family visiting from across the country (with two young teens). Favorably impressed with performances and the outdoor theater and atmosphere. Recommend without any reservation. read more

Bottom Line: An outdoor drama, that all OBX vacationers should see, about the first English settlement in the new world that mysteriously disappeared. History books teach schoolchildren that Jamestown was the first English permanent settlement in the "new world" but they often fail to mention that the very first settlement was in Roanoke Island, just a few miles from the sandy beaches of OBX. The settlers in Roanoke disappeared and this 400+ mystery is still being researched today. The Lost Colony is an outdoor play that tells the story of Sir Walter Raleigh propositioning colonization in the new world and the subsequent struggle of the colonists before they mysteriously vanished. The play is family friendly and there is a historian who helps explain the events but I think researching the history before to get a context for the drama is helpful, especially for those not familiar with the story. Kids are free on Monday nights with each paying adult. The play and Riverside Theater have their own historical claim to fame. The Lost Colony had been in production for 80 years although due to fires and such the theater has been rebuilt and renovated over time. Andy Griffith (most famous for his roles on The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock) got his acting career started with The Lost Colony. And President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to see the show in 1938. The show does feel a little long to me but I suspect the balance that has to be struck is telling a complex story, honoring the original playwright's script and keeping the audiences attention. Fortunately there is some comic relief from "Old Tom" to keep the play from being less somber and in Act 2 John Borden takes off his shirt and the ladies seemed to like that, a lot. Parking is free and there are concession stands including one selling beer and wine. There is also a gift shop. read more

The Lost Colony - The marker honors FDR's attendance at the play during his second term in office. - Performing Arts Near Me - Manteo, North Carolina

See all

I've been to Broadway shows and this is right up there on that level! I've NEVER seen anything like it! The visual effects were a complete surprise and I was captivated! Gorgeous performances, beautifully choreographed numbers, superb singing and acting. Ms. Littleturtle was an amazing storyteller and kept the audience awaiting every word. The whole performance under the stars outdoors was an experience I'll never forget! We were traveling with friends who really enjoyed learning the history of The Lost Colony. Truly a show NOT to be missed. read more

Had a great time. Loved being outdoors for the play and education about the lost colony.

Same as the others have stated. This was an amazing show over the years, but it has turned into a disjointed, special effect mess. The humor is gone, the story is completely confusing and flows as well as a river of broken glass. If they bring the old show back, it would be amazing. Until then, pass on this mess. read more

3/2/21  As a young kid and later as a  teenager,  I remember going to see The Lost Colony.   It's a pity I do really remember much about the play.    I remember even less about Roanoke Island. In 1587, 117 English women, children and men came to the island to set up a permanent English settlement in the new world of the United States, as it would eventually become. From what I just read, it looks like extreme drought caused the demise of many settlers.    Watching the play might bring back memories for me, but I don't know when this is going  again.  I saw this play in the summer time on both accounts.  Even though it was summertime,  it could get pretty darn cold.  It made it hard to watch the play the first time.  Guess I should have listen to my mom about wearing warm clothing.   The second time I went there I was better prepared. Driving to Roanoke Island from Corolla  took hour and a half or less.  To me as a kid, it might as well been 4 hours. Yes, I had a hard time sitting still in the family vichele.  If I do go back to Roanoke Islan, I look forwards to seeing more of the land and most certainly take pictures of the area. The next time I see this play, it will be with my wife. It will be an adventure. read more

The Lost Colony is sort of a mixed bag of nuts. On one hand it is marketed as a type of tradition or OBX rite of passage to say that you did it. But on the other hand you're shelling out a good bit of dough for a flimsy script that takes a lot of liberties with what may or may not have actually happened to the initial settlers. (My take on the show is based on going in mid-June.) The basic setup is that the show takes place on the grounds of Fort Raleigh NHS. There is plenty of parking and the Monday night show that we saw was maybe 60% full. Tickets are easy to get and ideally you should buy them and print them out in advance of getting to the show as there was a decent line at the box office for people picking up tickets. If you print them in advance you head right in where they scan the barcode and send you to your seat. (Kids 12 and under are free all season on Monday nights, hint, hint.) Don't follow some of the advice on TripAdvisor from people that talk about how sitting in some of the closer seats or how if you're not in the center section it will somehow lessen the experience. That's BS as honestly not a whole lot of the show takes place off of the main center part of the stage and I think that every seat is a good seat. The story is so-so. I hadn't seen the show in prior years so I have nothing to base it off of but at least this year there are good points and bad points. The set while simplistic works well enough for the story and the acting/singing is also good enough. The two negatives are the Old Tom character who gets too much stage time and is a bit too buffoonish although without him this show would be really, really dull. The other part is the ending/summary of the show. Ironically if you go next door to the Fort Raleigh visitor center you can watch the NPS movie or read the displays that explain that what the show leads you to believe actually happened to the settlement is at best a guess or a possibility but this far down the road from the events no one will ever know what happened to them. Did they go to Hatteras? Did they go to Jersey? Were they all slaughtered by Native Americans? Did they move somewhere else? Overall the show was an interesting one and done that I suppose I'm glad I can say that I saw once but by no means will this become some type of annual tradition for us. (Plenty or restrooms and reasonably priced concessions on site. We did not purchase the rain insurance but I feel that we got lucky more than anything. OBX weather is such a crapshoot, you never know. Also we saw a lot of people lathering up with the bug spray but we had no issue staying au naturel.) read more

Same as the others have stated. This was an amazing show over the years, but it has turned into a disjointed, special effect mess. The humor is gone, the story is completely confusing. If they bring the old show back, it would be amazing. Until then, pass on this mess read more

The show was awesome! Actors and actresses were great! Sound was just right and our seats were perfect! The lady at the ticket call was so nice and they were extremely accommodating!! Would definitely return! read more

This is the lost colony of Roanoke, NC which in the summer has lots of events: ticket choreographies, operas and US History musicals! Before Jamestown - there was Roanoke. When I came all we saw was the buildings which were like wigwams, straw huts, thatched roof buildings, tiki huts and stages and piers. All in all a melancholy cool historic spot for browsing, wandering, picnicking, selfie-ing and relaxing near the bayous of North Carolina's Outer Banks! Plenty of parking: room for tailgating.. Rebel review: 4 read more

The spot is amazing, the acting was good, the staff could not have been any nicer. But the director needs some help. It was very hard to follow the story - the audience needed more narrative to help them along. The costumes of the native Americans had silver CD's as decoration- really? The costumes looked like they belonged at the Mummers parade. The wooden animals were cool but why the red eyes? I would just buy a book about the Lost Colony and read it to your kids. read more

All I can say is awesome! The play wasn't running due to Covid bit the park itself is awesome. I'm a huge history buff and my daughter is as well and we enjoyed very very much! I'll 100 percent be purchasing an annual membership. Again I can't speak on the performance but if the stage and atmosphere are any indication I can't see it being any less than stellar. I'm not going to walk in expecting Broadway like some other reviewers here seem to expect; it is a small place and extremely inexpensive so I'm not really sure what they're expecting for 6 bucks but I'm looking forward to going back next season! read more

So, I've gone to Nags Head almost every year of my life and, for some reason, have never gone to this show. And I don't know why the hell not?!?! What I can tell you is that I'll be going to the show every single year from now on! I had no idea how large of a production this was. Fully outside, next to the sound, huge stages and sets, fireworks, big ships that sail in and out, millions of dollars in costumes, gun shots, snow and an extremely large cast. We counted 105 people in the program for active cast members. You know they must be doing something right to be able to employ that many people and put on this show for over 70 years! We were honestly amazed. It was a great story, great production and great venue. Parking was also easy-breezy (just follow all the signs!). Be aware of their refund policy. Because it's outside, if it rains, they don't cancel the show until 8:30 (the show starts at 8). So if you pre-purchased tickets, which is recommended, and it rains, you still have to go. Then, you have to mail in your tickets with a written request for a refund. Not exactly the friendliest policy in my opinion and it's obviously made in hopes that some people won't bother with the hassle...but I think they should stand behind their product a little better, realizing they will have rain-outs and treat people right with refunds on the spot. Rain is a risk of their business, and I think they need to err on the side of great customer service. We didn't have a rain-out, so my review is 5-stars. Just an incredible production. read more

See all

Absolute "WOKE "drivel This show needs a category 5 hurricane.The indians could not dance.The actors did not seem to know what they wre doing. The direction seems to have survived a 3 stooges comedy. read more

We've been enjoying the campy pleasures of "The Lost Colony" every summer for almost 30 years. We've seen directors come and go, with interesting tweaks to the original 1930s script along the way, but all of the productions have preserved the spirit of the piece...until now. I'm not sure what this season's director was going for, but the result is a mishmash of anachronistic gimmicks piled one on top of another: Native American dancers in Aztec-type costumes, a STOMP-echoing drum corps that kept appearing for extended periods, a Gypsy dancer bidding the colonists bon voyage, and Lion King-style puppet dances replacing the delightfully hokey fight scenes of old. I could go on. Perhaps most incomprehensible was the shrinkage of the humorous "Old Tom" arc to a series of unconnected pratfalls, rendering his redemption speech at the play's end a confusing non sequitur. While the innovation of having a Native American woman serve as the Narrator was a nice (if predictable) touch, the rest of this production is like a fever dream of Liberace's. Skip this summer's show and hope the play's producers scrap this new direction and bring back the glorious kitsch-fest we've loved for decades! read more

I will concede that the setting is lovely and the employees were pleasant. The show however was possibly the worst thing I've ever seen on a stage! And that might even include school plays. The acting was terrible, one dimensional and cliche. Actors slipped in and out of their accents. The old drunk was pointless and was on stage way too much. The sound was subpar. But all of this would maybe be an acceptable way to maybe pass a summer evening if it wasn't for the mind bogglingly offensive acts of cultural appropriation taking place in the portrayal of native Americans. The play starts with dancing that's clearly not authentic as the actors climb a totem pole, which weren't used by natives in the Virginia/Carolina region?! And the main native was clearly a fat white guy! I'm sorry but this kind of portrayal just isn't ok anymore in 2019! We left at intermission. This is a disaster. Avoid at all costs! read more

Very entertaining and creative show in a lovely park. We enjoyed walking around the historic site before the show. Loved being able to have a cold drink with us during the show. Comfortable seats, clean restrooms, great parking and easy in and out. read more

Truly disappointing. Being local, I've experienced the Lost Colony 12 times in the last 20 years. This year's production is by far the worst. This show used to be an exciting, sometimes funny, many times solemn telling of one of histories greatest mysteries. Now there is a drum line in Queen Elizabeth's court, a belly-dancer/gypsy seeing off the colonist and stick animal (rats maybe) 'puppets' representing/depicting who knows what - truly confusing. Mediocre, community-level acting at best and several mis-castings. I do applaud the casting of Native Americans in the native roles, the great costumes and the choral performances - but overall, saddened by what this show has become. read more

This is an OBX staple. I remember seeing this show with my family as a child in the early 90's and have brought my new wife to see this show tonight. Overall I thought the show was very good. Yes, it is long. Yes, the actors talk with English accents which can be hard to understand. Yes, there are bugs although not as bad as made out to be (not one bite and neither of us wore repellant). There are concessions with light refreshments. There is also a booth that serves beer and local wine. Parking is a breeze and exiting after the show went much better than I anticipated. Now for the actual show. It was both entertaining and also disappointing to me in a way. Entertaining in a sense that they somewhat explain the history. The acting is great and the show is filled with a ton of action (beware the gun fire is loud and may startle kids and unsuspecting adults), singing, and dancing. The show was also somewhat disappointing to me because at some point over the years they changed the ending. The ending is not the same as it was when I saw the show as a child and I don't believe it is historically accurate. In the old act, a supply ship finally comes only to discover all the colonists are missing. They only clue of their fate is the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree (as historical accounts state). Not so much with the new script... Also, there are issues with the sound system as some microphones were not picked up by the speakers. This resulted in dialogue that was hard to hear and understand at times (and we were sitting in the 3rd row). Overall, is this performance worth seeing? Yes. It is still good. Just don't go in expecting what you may have saw years ago. Also, I hope they fix the sound system. I'm sure people who sat in the back missed a lot of dialogue. read more

Show is better than it was last year. I recommend it, although it has lost some of the original flair.

These talented actors and actresses have put their heart and soul into this performance. It has been on my to do list for over 10 years visiting the area and we simply had an exceptional time. The costumes, the lighting, the energy, the music... all of it was so beautiful and so well done. Brava! read more

It was an absolutely wonderful show! We have been a few times over the years, but since we last attended, they have added many special effects, projections, and unique theatrical elements that made the story come to life even more than before. It is a must see if you are coming to the Outer Banks, and we look forward to visiting again! read more