Storyhouse is set to fill Chester's Grosvenor Park with a spectacular programme of performances, events and activities this summer.
The Great Midsummer Spectacular will include comedy, music, children’s theatre and a murder mystery evening in the atmospheric surroundings of the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre "village". There will also be events for Chester Disability Pride and an open-mic night.
The programme runs from July 2-August 27 and is intended to offer a festival feel to complement the annual open-air theatre season (which this year features productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Great Gatsby.
The spectacular opens on July 2 with a return to the park for popular Chester duo Me + Deboe - who last years created original music for the open-air production of Romeo and Juliet.
The same venue – the tepee bar – will also have a series of comedy nights from July 6, hosted by Danny McLoughlin.
Chester's indie record label Mai 68 Records continues its association with Storyhouse, with music sessions in the park and popular Storyhouse Sessions at Hunter Street. Its Storyhouse Summer Sessions will take place in the tepee on July 7.
The third Chester Disability Pride Parade, part of the annual Kaleidoscope Festival, takes place on July 10, from Chester Town Hall to Grosvenor Park where there will be a performances and music.
The festival moves on to July 16 with Dee Sign Choir in the tepee – one of the UK’s original signing choirs – which has been entertaining audiences since 1997.
The August programme opens with City of Curses: A Murder Mystery Trial on August 6, followed on August 13 by ukulele band Chester Ukes.
Storyhouse associate artist Goofus Theatre visits the park from August 25-27 to entertain young theatre-lovers with song, music, actors, acrobats, clowning and puppets.
Storyhouse producer Helen Redcliffe said: “Last year was the first time we had staged a whole programme alongside our main shows and it was really well received. We’re building on that this year with a mixture of returning favourites and new performers, and a programme embracing music, comedy and theatre along with celebrations for both Chester Disability Pride and the city’s main Pride weekend too. It should be quite a summer!”
Full programme and tickets here