Open Air Theatre at Grosvenor Park

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

Book now

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre 2024

Grosvenor Park, Chester
19 July-1 September 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Open Air Theatre at Grosvenor Park
Mark McNulty
Book now

This summer, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre will provide the stunning setting for three spectacular open-air performances: a pulse-pounding production of The Gangs of New York, Oscar Wild’s razor-sharp The Importance of Being Earnest and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a super walkabout theatre experience for families.

Boasting a 500-seat in-the-round theatre, the lush backdrop for all of these open-air performances really is unique. Established in 2010, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is one of the UK’s best-loved open-air theatres and regularly plays to sold-out audiences across the summer. The theatre is produced by Storyhouse, Chester’s award-winning cultural centre.

The Gangs of New York (19 July – 31 August) is set to launch this electrifying summer theatre season at Grosvenor Park. Prepare to be transported to the beating heart of 19th-century New York for this gripping tale of love, power and betrayal.

In contrast, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (27 July – 22 August) – specially created for under 10s – is sure to delight families of all ages. Enjoy a super walkabout show, meet a whole host of colourful characters and wind back into the lush open-air theatre for an enchanting finale.

Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is the third production in Grosvenor Park’s fabulous theatre programme. Witty and charming, the hilarious and much-loved satire is brought to life in the open-air. Round up your family and friends and celebrate the enduring legacy of Wilde’s comedic brilliance this summer.

Light summer nights, the pleasing sound of popping corks, pre-show picnics and content audiences, theatre underneath the stars is one of our favourite things. With seven weeks of exceptional performances, good company and fresh air – Chester has got the full house this summer.

Accessibility

  • British Sign Language
  • Captioned
  • Relaxed

Where to go near Open Air Theatre at Grosvenor Park

Chester City Walls
Chester
Tourist Attraction
Chester City Walls

Chester’s city walls are the oldest, longest and most complete in Britain, parts of which are almost 2000 years old. The main access onto the walls is at each of the four main gateways – Northgate, Eastgate, Watergate and Bridgegate, plus there are many other steps around the city, some including accessible ramps.

ChesterBoat river cruise, Chester
Chester
Tourist Attraction
ChesterBoat

ChesterBoat is a family-owned business with more than forty year’s experience of welcoming visitors to the beautiful River Dee. They offer half-hour and two-hour sightseeing cruises, as well as private hires, fish and chip cruises, and themed party nights.

Chester
Hotel
Hotel Indigo Chester

Hotel Indigo Chester is an elegant and welcoming hotel in the heart of this beautiful city, with the equally excellent Wood Chester as in-house restaurant.

Chester Roman Gardens
Chester
Park
Roman Gardens

Chester’s Roman Gardens are a pleasant place for a stroll and during the summer months the place to watch a film at the annual, outdoor, Moonlight Flicks cinema programme.

Gallery stock image
Cheshire
Gallery
Clarendon Fine Art

Contemporary art on display and for sale in Cheshire. Come and browse their varied collections and converse with knowledgeable staff.

Bar stock image
Cheshire
Restaurant
Metronome Jazz Bar

This small and atmospheric bar is a cosy venue with a resident Jazz pianist, fantastic staff and a record player filled with, naturally, iconic jazz.

Whitmore & White
Chester
Shop
Whitmore & White

Whitmore & White is an award-winning deli and independent wine merchant in the heart of romantic Chester serving a plethora of charcuterie, cheeses and confectionery.

Edgar House hotel, Chester
Chester
Hotel
Edgar House

Edgar House is a fine period Georgian house which has been lovingly refurbished to create Chester’s award winning premier small luxury hotel – just for adults.

Chester Cathedral
Chester
Place of worship
Chester Cathedral

Chester Cathedral is a living community of prayer and worship, and a centre of excellence in Church Music with a rich and fascinating heritage.

Oddfellows hotel, Chester
Chester
Hotel
Oddfellows

Oddfellows hotel inhabits a Georgian townhouse right bang in the middle of Chester, only moments away from the river.

What's on: Festivals

Three men sit next to each other. One's head is bandaged, one holds a torch and one wears a sleepmask.
Until
CinemaManchester
Wes World at HOME

Take a trip back into the world of Wes Anderson this May as HOME present a series of the acclaimed auteur’s most beloved films alongside The Phoenician Scheme.

From £7.95
Four young female dancers in folk costumes, one looking at the camera
ActivityCathedral Quarter
Góbéfest

Góbéfest, Manchester’s original international urban folk music and dance festival, is back with a killer line up and the best of Central Europe.

Free entry
The Herds, The Walk Productions
FestivalsManchester
MIF25: THE HERDS

Manchester International Festival 2025 kicks off with an awe-inspiring outdoor spectacle as THE HERDS take to the streets of Manchester, Rochdale, and Wigan.

Free entry
FestivalsCity Centre
MIF25: Festival Square

Festival Square is the beating heart of Manchester International Festival 2025, returning to its riverside location once again.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Hannah Platt 'Playing Out', courtesy of Threshold, photograph by Jules Lister.
Exhibitions in the North

From city-wide art festivals to open-air sculptural installations, we have exhibitions from all around the North, both indoors and out.

Sextile
Music in the North

Gigs are coming in hot this spring – from long-awaited returns to one-off happenings you’ll blink and miss (unless you’re paying attention).

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Eclectic as ever. You'll find inventive reworkings, world-class contemporary dance and Greater Manchester's inaugural Improv Festival in our guide.

portrait of Lorsung in a dark shirt with dark hair and dark round glasses
Literature Events in the North

We've got laughs and we've got leftfield on the live literature radar this month. Something for everyone, from poets playing with form to short story writers looking long.

Classical Music in the North

Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.