The Lost Colony

The Lost Colony is the outdoor symphonic drama performed at the Waterside Theatre on the grounds of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, just north of downtown Manteo. It dramatizes the story of the 1587 English colonists who settled on this end of Roanoke Island and disappeared sometime before a resupply ship returned in 1590 — a disappearance that has never been conclusively explained and remains an open historical question rather than a settled one.

A long-running Roanoke Island tradition

First staged in 1937, the production is widely recognized as one of the longest continuously running outdoor dramas in the country, aside from a wartime pause. Performances combine scripted drama, music, and dance across a seasonal run at the Waterside Theatre, typically in the evening. Because the schedule varies by season and can shift year to year, confirm current performance dates and start times directly with the box office or website before planning your evening.

Plan your visit

• Located on the same historic grounds as Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, on Roanoke Island's north end near Manteo
• Outdoor amphitheater setting — dress for evening weather and check the forecast
• Pair the show with a daytime stop at Fort Raleigh or Elizabethan Gardens, both close by on the same stretch of National Park Drive

Call ahead or check the website for ticket availability and showtimes, since this is a seasonal production rather than a year-round attraction.