Going to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre was a risky booking for me. My children didn’t know this story and maybe more shocking is that I didn’t know the story myself. I’d been told this play had quite a complicated storyline and that characters are across genders with multiple storylines. But, I thought the experience would still be a fabulous one , even if some of the story when over our heads.
The setting is a gorgeous one. Set in Grosvenor Park in Chester, inside an open-air theatre. The amphitheatre style seating surrounds the stage, making it a truly different experience to the classic inside theatre. The actors are very close to the audience and even use the stalls as part of their stage. Walking and sitting within the audience, making it a very intimate and immersive show.
Inside the theatre village, you have a chance to enjoy local beers, wood-fired pizzas, hot waffles, ice cream & more. Or you can bring your own picnic and drinks to enjoy while watching the performance. There were groups of families and friends enjoying some rather lavish picnics out of wicker baskets and enjoying a glass of bubbly while they waited for the show to start. Next time, I need to up my game with my picnic!
The show was brilliant. It was like a miniature musical. The actors did such an amazing performance, changing characters a few times within the show and even some ad libbing. The genders of the characters were classic of Shakespeare plays, with some not being true. Lysander was a girl, Bottom was a girl, and the Queen of the fairies was a Scottish man!
I would say it would help if you knew the basic storyline before you went. But I actually really enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen next, as this was my first time discovery of the story.
My 11 year old enjoyed the play and actually understood and engaged with it a lot more than I had thought she would. My 8 year old was slightly more confused, but she particularly liked the music and the comedy of the performance. The bright and elaborate costumes and full of live characters make the play easy to watch and entertaining. So even if you’re taking younger children they would still enjoy it and definitely get something from the experience.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is showing a few more times this week so make sure you book before it ends.
It’s all organised and ran by Storyhouse which is a charity. Their home in Chester incorporates a library, theatres, an independent cinema, a restaurant, and is a community and creative social space.
Get tickets here. https://storyhouse.com/event/
This year’s productions
A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1 July – 27 August – Recommended age 5+
The Great Gatsby 21 July – 27 August – Recommended age 14+
- Performances at 2pm & 7pm
- Show is 2 hours including 20 minute interval
- Refreshments for sale in interval
- Grosvenor Park Road Chester CH1 1QQ
- Food and Drink available to buy from theatre village
- Pack a Picnic
- Toilets in the park
- Children under 12 go free
