Outdoor theatre Cheshire 2026
This summer there is loads of outdoor theatre Cheshire to choose from. There are some great shows for families as well as some that are better suited to adults and teens. This post is part of a series of posts on Outdoor theatre North West.
As with any events post, I have done my best to make sure this post is up to date but events do get cancelled at the last minute so please check with the theatre company or venue. All events require pre-booking.
This post will be updated so if you know an outdoor theatre show that I need to add, please send me an email at info@northwestforkids.co.uk
Let the sun shine, Grovesnor open-air theatre, Chester
When – 10th July – 23rd August 2026 (selected dates).
Summer, 1969. The air is full of music, love and revolution.
In a small village where tradition rules and change is feared, twenty-year-old Harry dreams of something more. When the Sunshine Festival arrives on the edge of town, bringing music and a taste of freedom; Harry must choose between the life he knows and the future calling his name.
Let the Sun Shine is a joyful, life-affirming story about generations colliding, finding your voice, and daring to imagine a different path. A brand new production live at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Bursting with the sound and spirit of the 60s and brought to life under the sunshine.
Age guidance 12+
Book here – Let the sun shine | Storyhouse
Tickets – from £24,
You can preorder pizzas and grazing packages.
This is part of Storyhouse Chester which is a fantastic place.
Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story, Grovesnor open-air theatre, Chester
When – 3rd July – 23rd August 2026 (selected dates)
In medieval Nottingham, the corrupt King John, aided by the Sheriff of Nottingham, takes what he wants while the people suffer.
But there is hope. And it wears a hood.
Local lad Robin and his sidekick Little John have become infamous for stealing the King’s ill-gotten gains and returning them to the people who so desperately need them.
When the King visits Nottingham, Robin sees the opportunity for their biggest score yet; and with the help of rebellious noblewoman Marian, they embark on a dangerous and daring heist that will change England, and the world, forever.
Join us for electrifying sword fights, forbidden romance and a foot-stomping folk soundtrack in this action-packed new take on the story of the world’s favourite outlaws.
Book here – Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story | Storyhouse
Tickets – from £24,
You can preorder pizzas and grazing packages.
Peter Pan, Grovesnor open-air theatre, Chester
When – 28th July – 15th August 2026 (selected dates)
Join us for a magical adventure with Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre’s Peter Pan walkabout theatre experience – created especially for under 10s.
Little ones will step in to Neverland, meeting mischievous Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, brave Wendy and the dastardly Captain Hook along the way before the adventure ends in a joyful finale inside the open air theatre.
It’s the perfect way to spark young imaginations and introduce children to the magic of live performance… in a world where they don’t have to grow up yet!
Recommended for ages 2 – 10
Book here – Peter Pan | Storyhouse
Tickets – From £13.50
Nell Gwynn, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
When – 21st August – 6th September 2026 (selected dates)
London, 1660. Orange-seller, wit, trailblazer, Nell Gwynn is a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. From the chaotic pit of Drury Lane to the polished halls of Charles II’s court, Nell’s rise to fame as one of Britain’s first actresses is equal parts hilarious and defiant.
Packed with mischief, music and plenty of flair, Nell Gwynn is a riotous celebration of performance and women who won’t behave.
Suitable for age 14+
Book here – Nell Gwynn| Storyhouse
Tickets from £24
Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet double bill, Outdoor theatre at Quarry Bank
When – 1st & 2nd August 2026.
Experience the passion, intrigue, and urgency of Shakespeare in this bold, high-energy double bill: Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet.
Multi-award-winning A Place For Us Theatre presents unforgettable, abridged, and accessible versions of these chilling plays. Each production runs for 70 minutes, with a 40-minute interval between performances.
Pack your picnics, bring wet-weather gear or sun cream (or both!), and something to sit on, and prepare for an enchanting evening of outdoor theatre. Your ticket includes both productions; it is not possible to book for individual performances.
Book here – Outdoor theatre – Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet double bill | National Trust
Tickets Adults £24, Children £15, family discounts apply
King Arthur and the Holy Fail, Outdoor theatre, Quarry Bank
When – 19th July 2026.
In a land of daring quests, dashing knights, and endless jousting, there lived a would-be hero – waiting in the wings – who went by the name of Arthur. When Camelot is rocked to it’s core by a tragic – and frankly improbable – incident involving a large table of an undisclosed shape, Arthur is thrust into the quest of a lifetime. Will he bravely battle through blistering cold and scorching fire to save his beloved realm, or will he crumble as fate refuses to cooperate?
Destiny awaits, chivalry calls, and the quest to end all quests begins. Saddle up – things are about to get legendary.
Book here – Outdoor theatre – King Arthur and the Holy Fail
Tickets Adults £26.03, Children £15.31, family discounts apply
Jungle Book, Outdoor theatre at Arley Hall
When – 14th June 2026.
Immersion Theatre are thrilled to bring their trademark energy to their wildly entertaining musical adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling family favourite, THE JUNGLE BOOK!
Filled with original music, audience interaction, and a host of larger-than-life characters, you are invited to join Mowgli and his friends, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther, on a madcap jungle adventure as they meet and attempt to outwit a slithering snake, some cheeky monkeys, and the fierce tiger, Shere Khan! Funny, exciting and wildly entertaining, this AOOO-some musical will have you howling with laughter: It’s the perfect treat for the whole family!
The performance, in the East garden, which is not normally open to the public giving you the opportunity to see The Hall and park land from a different perspective while you watch the play. It is the perfect way to introduce children to live theatre in this relaxed and informal setting.
Bring along a rug or low backed chair to sit on.
Performance starts at 2.00pm and lasts 2 hours. Gates to performance open 1.30pm. Gardens are open from 10am.
Recommended for children 4+. Approximate run time: Act 1 – 45 minutes / Interval / Act 2 – 40 minutes.
Tickets include garden entry and free parking and are available to purchase on the day at the prices above. No dogs.
Book here – Jungle book – Arley Hall & Gardens
Tickets, £18 for adults, £10 children plus booking fees
Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles, Outdoor theatre at Arley Hall
When – 15th July 2026.
The Pantaloons are a vibrant and anarchic theatre company whose style draws from a wide variety of popular theatre traditions from commedia dell’arte and clowning to stand-up comedy and silent movies.
Bring a picnic and something to sit on!
The performance runs from 7pm- 9.20pm. You can visit the gardens from 6pm until the performance starts at 7pm and then again during the 15 minute interval at around 8.15.
Tickets include garden entry, free parking and are available to purchase on the night.
Toilets can be found on the stable yard.
This event is not suitable for dogs.
Book here – Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles, Outdoor theatre at Arley Hall
Tickets, £ for adults, £ children
Othello, Outdoor theatre at Arley Hall
When – 13th August 2026.
Join The Lord Chamberlain’s Men this summer for Othello, one of the most captivating and thrilling plays ever written. See it performed how William Shakespeare first saw it, as The Lord Chamberlain’s Men – with a history stretching back to Shakespeare’s original company – present this play in the open air, with an all male cast and Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.
Book here – Othello at Arley
Tickets, £20 for adults, £12 children
Romeo and Juliet, Norton Priory
When – 22nd July 2026
This powerful story of forbidden love and bitter rivalry is brought to life in a visual spectacle infused with comedy, heart-break, and danger. Moving, funny, and tragic in equal measure, this beautiful production will see Immersion continue to build on their reputation for producing Shakespeare for all, be it the seasoned theatre-goer or budding literary enthusiast.
This is Shakespeare as it’s meant to be: interactive, fun, and highly accessible!
Suitable for age 10+
Book here – Romeo & Juliet at Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
Adults £16, under 16s £14
Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, Norton Priory
When – 6th August 2026
Frederick, accidentally apprenticed to Pirates as a child, is indentured to the Pirate King until his 21st birthday. On the day he reaches 21 he leaves the ship, announcing that he now intends to dedicate his life to the Pirates’ destruction.
The Pirate King checks the contract’s small print – and realises that as Frederick’s birthday is 29th February on a leap year he has only had four birthdays and is actually indentured for another 63 years. With only the Penzance constabulary to protect him, will Frederick be forced to serve the pirates until he is 84? And will his sweetheart, Mabel, wait for him that long?
Performed by a six-strong cast of actor/singers with fully orchestrated accompaniment, The Pirates of Penzance boasts such gloriously memorable songs as “To be a Pirate King!”; “Modern Major General” and “A Policeman’s Lot is Not a Happy One”. With razor sharp satire and glittering wit, it remains as fresh as if it had been written today.
For all ages
Book here – The Pirates of Penzance at Norton Priory Museum & Gardens
Tickets are £18 for Adults, £12 for Children (under 16)
William Shakespeare’s As you like it , Norton Priory
When – 13th August 2026
In this play Shakespeare explores Love in all its guises. Four pairs of soulmates meet in the mysterious Forest of Arden. One pair leap straight into bed. Another pair are instantaneously dumbstruck by each other’s beauty and pledge their undying troth. The third pair torment each other: he showers chaste love upon her which she haughtily rejects – yet secretly she enjoys the flattery.
The fourth pair go further still, playfully blurring their roles and identities to such an extent that flirting becomes more pain than pleasure, and Love itself is pushed to the limit of its endurance – and beyond.
Book here – As you like it – Norton Priory Museum and Gardens
Tickets are £18 for Adults, £12 for Children (under 16)
The Jungle Book, Norton Priory
When – 17th August 2026
Filled with original music, audience interaction, and a host of larger-than-life characters, you are invited to join Mowgli and his friends, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther, on a madcap jungle adventure as they meet and attempt to outwit a slithering snake, some cheeky monkeys, and the fierce tiger, Shere Khan!
Funny, exciting and wildly entertaining, this AOOO-some musical will have you howling with laughter: It’s the perfect treat for the whole family!
Suitable for ages 4+
Book here – The Jungle Book – Norton Priory Museum and Gardens
Tickets £18 for Adults – £12 for Children (under 12)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hare Hill
When – 16th August 2026
Love, laughter, and a little bit of lunacy — enter a world where fairies meddle, lovers quarrel, and magic runs wild.
In the heart of an enchanted forest, four young lovers flee the constraints of society and stumble into a realm ruled by mischievous fairies, feuding royalty, and a troupe of would-be actors with more enthusiasm than talent. What follows is a wild night of mistaken identities, magical transformations, and love gone deliciously wrong — enjoy Shakespeare’s dazzling verse and Folksy’s twist of live music, audience interaction and frantic multi-rolling!
Book here – Folksy Theatre present: A Midsummer Night’s Dream | National Trust
Adults £15, children £12 plus booking fees
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Stonyford Cottage Gardens
When – 19th August 2026
Folksy Theatre will be holding their annual Open Air Theatre performing another favourite William Shakespeare play here at Stonyford Cottage Gardens.
Take out Drinks/Snacks are also available to purchase from our onsite tea room. Please note the interval is short and service may be limited due to demand.
Folksy’s wonderful production is filled with live music, colourful characters, enchantment and a little touch of magic.
Performance starts at 7pm – Typically, entrance to the venue is about 1hr prior to the start time.
Book here – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Stonyford Cottage Gardens
Adults £20, Children (3-16) £13
Shakespeare, Gawsworth Hall
When – 28th June 2026
A family feud divides the community! Violence stalks the streets. Who can see beyond the hate and dare to follow their heart? A pair of star-crossed lovers, that’s who – Romeo and Juliet!
Oddsocks productions return with their new take on Shakespeare’s blockbuster classic, finding laughs and pathos in the most dramatic of tragedies.
Book here – Shakespeare
Tickets from £22.50 – £30
No outdoor theatre announced yet
Walton Hall
More ideas for things to do this summer
As well as outdoor theatre, you can watch your favourite films outdoors this summer. Find out where here – Outdoor cinema North West
Find all the ice cream farms in Cheshire here.
Fancy cooling down in a paddling pool or splash park? Find the locations across our region here – Outdoor paddling pools and splash parks in the North West
Fruit picking is another great summer activity. Find all the Pick your own farms in North West England here.
Why not get lost in a maze this summer? Find all the ones across our region here – Maize maze North West.
