It’s time to pack the picnic hamper and head out this summer to catch some live theatre in the great outdoors.
With fourteen different shows in the three stunning locations of Nottingham Castle, Newstead Abbey and Wollaton Hall, there is sure to be something for all the family to enjoy. Whether it’s an epic Shakespeare extravaganza, an alternative adaptation on great classics or fabulous family fun there’s a performance to appeal to everyone.
To keep the little ones entertained there’s a choice of Mr Stink, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and The Three Musketeers.
Grab a ticket along with a picnic hamper and blankets and come and enjoy these fun summer evenings of entertainment.
Great value snacks and refreshments will be available at each site. Food and drink may be brought into the sites, but barbecues are not permitted.
Gates will open one hour before each performance to enable people to make an evening of it. Shows will only be cancelled if it is considered too dangerous to continue, not because of bad weather.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said: “Nottingham City Council is delighted to announce this year’s Outdoor Theatre programme. There is something for everyone with a great variety of performances which provide the perfect opportunity to make the most of the summer evenings.
“Spend time with friends and family in the beautiful surroundings of Nottingham Castle, Newstead Abbey or Wollaton Hall. We would recommend early booking as in previous years many shows have sold out due to their popularity.”
For more details and to book tickets call 0115 989 5555 or go online www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/outdoortheatre
A full list of performances is as follows:
Nottingham Castle
Hamlet
14 July, 7pm
‘Four actors, four bicycles and a 1,500-mile adventure’. Carrying all their set, props and costumes by bicycle, the HandleBards present their all-male production of Shakespeare’s epic – all 23 characters of it.
Twelfth Night
22-23 July, 7pm
Oddsocks’ 2015 production of Twelfth Night is a madcap musical treat with Shakespeare’s love stories intertwined with well-known British Chart hits to keep the blood pumping and the mood merry.
Much Ado About Nothing
24-25 July, 7pm
Oddsocks’ Much Ado About Nothing is a high octane musical version of Shakespeare’s witty battle of the sexes featuring well known UK hits from the best music decades.
Emma
29 July, 7pm
In true Heartbreak style, the adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ is introduced and performed by a group of artists who tell the story in the hope that the romantic nature of Austen’s writing inspires their portraiture and landscape skills.
Love’s Labour’s Lost
26 August, 7pm
Set in the Roaring 20s at a prestigious Oxford college, Heartbreak Productions’ musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost promises to be a fun frolic through the life and loves of three young men.
Mr Stink
8-9 August, 6pm
Mrs Crumb (or “Croooombe” as she would have it) is throwing a garden party for her high-achieving daughter, Annabelle. Desperate to appear as posh as possible, Mrs Crumb has organised sweet stalls, croquet and old fashioned party games with the aim to impress everyone.
Newstead Abbey
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
16 July, 7pm
‘Four actors, four bicycles and a 1,500-mile adventure. Carrying all their set, props and costumes by bicycle, the HandleBards present their all-male production of Shakespeare’s epic – all 23 characters of it.
Twelfth Night
26 July, 7pm
With identical twins separated by shipwreck, a cross-dressing heroine and everyone in search of love, Twelfth Night is one of the most famous and tangled love stories in literature.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
31 July, 6pm
Bored of chores, the apprentice waves a wand and a broom magically fetches water. But he can’t find a spell to make it stop. In desperation he saws it in half – and everything rapidly spirals out of control.
Taming Of The Shrew
14 August, 7pm
Everyone wants to marry mild-mannered Bianca. No-one wants to marry her acid-tongued older sister Kate. Their father won’t let anyone marry Bianca until a husband can be found for Kate – but no-one knows anyone mad enough to take her on.
Iolanthe
21 August, 7pm
Gilbert and Sullivan’s most magical comic opera is set half in Fairyland, half in Westminster. Its surprisingly topical satire pokes fun at Love, Class and Politics – and on how people from different backgrounds form uneasy coalitions.
Wollaton Hall
The Three Musketeers
10 July, 7pm
All for One; One for All! Young D’Artagnan is desperate to join the King’s Musketeers. He plunges headlong into a thrilling adventure, dodging Cardinal Richelieu and crossing swords with the deadly seductress Milady de Winter.
Pride & Prejudice
13 August, 7pm
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen’s witty and romantic masterpiece is one of the best-loved stories of all time, dealing with the most important questions in life… Will Mrs Bennett manage to offload her numerous daughters in record time?
Much Ado About Nothing
20 August, 7pm
On the contrary; there’s a lot to shout about in The Pantaloons’ take on Shakespeare’s timeless summer comedy of masks, music and mistaken identities. The boys are back from war and it’s time for celebration – but villainous Don John decides to spoil everyone’s fun with his devious plots.