Summer fun in the park in Chester with Storyhouse
- Alan Hulme
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Chester arts centre Storyhouse returns to the city's Grosvenor Park (June 28-August 31) with a summer outdoor festival of plays, a family walkabout adventure, comedy, murder mysteries, street food and live music.
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, Pride and Prejudice (July 4-August 31), adapted by Deborah McAndrew and directed by Conrad Nelson, will be in repertoire with a new version of Conan Doyle's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (July 18-August 31), set in modern-day Chester.
Primary age youngsters and their families can also embark on an adventure in the Alice in Wonderland Walkabout Experience (July 25-August 30), which encourages audiences to follow Lewis Carroll’s tale across the festival site, meeting the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Cat along the way.
In August, young visitors can attend a Mad Hatter tea party, featuring treats and juice and a chance to meet some of their favourite characters from the Walkabout Experience (August 2, 3, 28 and 30).
Award-winning children’s theatre company One Tenth Human brings its disgusting new interactive gameshow, Pipes and Poo (July 10-12).
Comedy in the Park brings laughs (June 29, July 6, August 24), while there’s a chance to experience two murder mysteries – The Crown Duels: Gangs of Chester (July 8 & 22) and The City of Curses (July 9).
There’s an opportunity to enjoy relaxing mindfulness with a Yoga in the Park session (July 13), and for well-behaved pooches to join the fun in a free Pups in the Park (July 20).
The festival site also offers the popular tepee bar, seating areas, wood-fired pizzas, a barbecue, craft beers and frozen cocktails.
Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson said: “Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is a much-anticipated part of the summer in Chester – not least by the team here at Storyhouse. It’s a chance for audiences of all ages to immerse themselves in live theatre in the most picturesque of surroundings.
“I’m delighted to welcome Deborah McAndrew and Conrad Nelson back to the park this year. They’re hugely talented storytellers, and their witty version of Pride and Prejudice was a huge hit with Grosvenor Park audiences when it premiered here in 2021.
“We’re also thrilled to present a new adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, created for the open-air theatre. This version, written by Molly Taylor, is bang up to date and sees the famous Sherlock visiting Chester for his greatest mystery yet.
“With Alice in Wonderland to captivate youngsters and a great programme of other events on the festival site, all we need now is for the sun to continue to shine over Chester this summer.”
More info and tickets here
