Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, returns this summer with three fantastic full-length productions coming to the biggest open-air theatre in the north.
The open-air season will run from Friday, 1 July to Bank Holiday Monday, 29 August.
Shakespeare’s exquisite story of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, will launch the Grosvenor Park programme on 1 July.
The new production will be directed by John Young, who led the popular Merry Wives of Windsor last year. This new staging of one of literature’s greatest love stories will be set in late 1950s Italy and will feature songs specially composed by Chester band Me + Deboe.
It will be followed by Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale Little Women, brought to the stage in a new adaptation by Anne Odeke and with the action transported from Civil War America to Britain at the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914.
The play, which opens on 8 July, will be directed by Natasha Rickman who returns after directing critically acclaimed,Antigone at Storyhouse last autumn.
And the programme is completed with a revival of the hugely popular children’s favourite Stig of the Dump which entranced young theatregoers and their adults when it was performed at Grosvenor Park in 2016.
The adaptation by Jessica Swale will be directed by Harry Jardine will see both Stig and Barney being played by Deaf actors, and have an integrated BSL signer as part of every show.
Stig of the Dump opens on 22 July, and all three productions will then play in repertory until 29 August.
Meanwhile Jess Curtis returns to the park as designer of all three show.
Along with the return of full-length performances, the Grosvenor Park ‘village’ will also return with an expanded version of the popular tepee bar, al fresco seating areas, games for kids, and an extended food and beverage offer – supplied almost exclusively by local suppliers. Plus, ‘Twelfth Slice’ wood fired pizzas and more.
And this year visitors will notice more of a festival feel with a host of extra events and activities being organised as part of the two-month park residency.
Local employer MBNA are sponsoring the 2022 season for the 3rd consecutive year.
Andrew Bentley CEO Storyhouse says: “We’ve been really proud to continue offering live performance to our loyal Grosvenor Park audiences during the pandemic. But it’s really exciting to finally be able to announce that Grosvenor Park is back with full-length shows including intervals, full lighting and a full company of talented actor-musicians waiting to entertain.
“We’ve got three amazing shows for 2022 – and while they’re all different there are themes of belonging, home, acceptance, discovery and finding your tribe which link them all.
“And along with the main shows, we’re planning a programme of additional events which together we hope will add to a real festival feel for what I know is going to be fantastic summer in the park.”
Children aged 12 and under go free when accompanied by a full paying adult.
Tickets on sale to storyhouse members from 24 March – 7 April, join now at storyhouse.com
For more details and to book visit www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk
LISTINGS
Romeo and Juliet (R&J)
1 July – 22 August 2022
Little Women (LW)
8 July – 22 August 2022
Stig of the Dump (SotD)
22 July – 29 August 2022
FULL SHOW SCHEDULE
R&J Friday 1 July at 7.30pm
R&J Saturday 2 July at 7.30pm
R&J Sunday 3 July at 12 noon
R&J Sunday 3 July at 4.30pm
LW Friday 8 July at 7.30pm
LW Saturday 9 July at 7.30pm
LW Sunday 10 July at 12 noon
R&J Friday 15 July at 7.30pm PRESS NIGHT
R&J Saturday 16 July at 2pm
LW Saturday 16 July at 7.30pm
LW Sunday 17 July at 12 noon
SotD Friday 22 July at 4.30pm
LW Friday 22 July at 7.30pm PRESS NIGHT
SotD Saturday 23 July at 2pm
R&J Saturday 23 July at 7.30pm
SotD Sunday 24 July at 12 noon PRESS ‘NIGHT’
LW Sunday 24 July at 4.30pm
R&J Tuesday 26 July at 7.30pm
SotD Wednesday 27 July at 2pm
LW Wednesday 27 July at 7.30pm
R&J Thursday 28 July at 7.30pm SPONSORS NIGHT
LW Friday 29 July at 7.30pm
SotD Saturday 30 July at 2pm SPONSORS NIGHT
R&J Saturday 30 July at 7.30pm
SotD Sunday 31 July at noon
LW Sunday 31 July at 4.30pm
LW Tuesday 2 August at 7.30pm
SotD Wednesday 3 August at 2pm
R&J Wednesday 03 August at 7.30pm
SotD Thursday 4 August at 2pm
LW Thursday 4 August at 7.30pm SPONSORS NIGHT
R&J Friday 5 August at 7.30pm
R&J Saturday 6 August at 2pm
LW Saturday 6 August at 7.30pm
SotD Sunday 7 August at 12 noon
R&J Sunday 7 August at 4.30pm
SotD Tuesday 9 August at 2pm
R&J Tuesday 9 August at 7.30pm
LW Wednesday 10 August at 7.30pm
SotD Thursday 11 August at 2pm
R&J Thursday 11 August at 7.30pm
LW Friday 12 August at 7.30pm
SotD Saturday 13 August at 2pm
LW Saturday 13 August at 7.30pm
SotD Sunday 14 August at 12 noon
R&J Sunday 14 August at 4.30pm
SotD Wednesday 17 August at 2pm
R&J Wednesday 17 August at 7.30pm
SotD Thursday 18 August at 2pm
LW Thursday 18 August at 7.30pm
R&J Friday 19 August at 7.30pm
LW Saturday 20 August at 2pm
R&J Saturday 20 August at 7.30pm
SotD Sunday 21 August at 12 noon
LW Sunday 21 August at 4.30pm
SotD Wednesday 24 August at 12 noon
SotD Wednesday 24 August at 4.30pm
R&J Thursday 25 August at 7.30pm
LW Friday 26 August at 7.30pm
LW Saturday 27 August at 2pm
R&J Saturday 27 August at 7.30pm
SotD Sunday 28 August at 12 noon
R&J Sunday 28 August at 4.30pm
SotD Monday 29 August at 12 noon
LW Monday 29 August at 4.30pm
TICKET PRICES
Picnic Terraces: £30-£38
Covered Picnic Terraces: £36-£42
Premium Covered Picnic Terraces: £45-£49
Picnic Chairs: £36-£42
Premium Picnic Chairs: £45-£49
