Full casting has been revealed for the 2026 Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre season, as Storyhouse prepares to transform Chester’s park into a vibrant hub of culture, community and creativity this summer.
Running from 27 June to 6 September, the Storyhouse in the Park festival promises a diverse programme of theatre, music, film and family events.
The season opens with two Grosvenor Park premieres, including Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story, a bold new take on the classic legend by Kieran Lynn, running from 3 July to 23 August.
Alongside it, Helen Redcliffe’s uplifting drama Let The Sun Shine! will run from 10 July to 23 August.
David Ahmad leads the company, playing King John in Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story and Arthur in Let The Sun Shine!.
He is joined by Annabelle Aquino, Rebecca Bainbridge, Lucas Button, Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings, Sorrel Jordan and Zoe Lambert across both productions, with Abigail Middleton, Kate Milner-Evans, Perry Moore and Robert Wade also featuring.
Four trainee actors will also be part of the 2026 ensemble, continuing Storyhouse’s commitment to developing new talent.
The season continues with a family-friendly walkabout production of Peter Pan, running from 28 July to 13 August.
Thom Hallows takes on the title role, alongside Lydia Rose Morales Scully as Wendy, Hannah Rose Curtis as Tinkerbell and Alexander McGonagle as Captain Hook.
The production is written and produced by Amy Tulley, with McGonagle also directing.
The summer concludes with Jessica Swale’s Olivier Award-winning Nell Gwynn, running from 21 August to 6 September in a co-production with Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre by the Lake.
Rose Shalloo plays the title role, with Adam Clifford, Celia Cruwys-Finnegan, Tamsin Dowsett, Elliot Harper, Burhan Kathawala, Sufia Manya, Jamie Ross, Guy Woolf and Stanton Wright completing the cast.
Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson said: “This year’s Park season brings together stories, characters and music audiences already hold close to their hearts, from Robin Hood and Peter Pan to the sounds of 1969 and we’re incredibly proud of the company of artists joining us this summer, with a cast that brings together exceptional talent from the National Theatre, the RSC, the West End and some of the country’s leading producing theatres alongside returning Grosvenor Park favourites.
“We’re delighted to be co-producing Nell Gwynn with Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre by the Lake, the first co-production in the park’s history, and to be extending the season further into the summer than ever before.
“It’s a season full of joy, adventure and connection, and we can’t wait to throw open the gates once again.”
Alongside the theatre programme, audiences can enjoy a packed schedule of additional events, including open-air cinema, live comedy, murder mystery evenings, yoga sessions and family craft activities.
A street food festival will launch the season on 27 and 28 June, alongside the return of the popular tepee bar offering food, drinks and live music.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
