Storyhouse will return to Chester’s Grosvenor Park this summer, transforming the park into a vibrant cultural hub from 27 June to 6 September.
The 2026 Storyhouse in the Park season will include open-air theatre, comedy nights, Moonlight Flicks outdoor cinema, murder mysteries, yoga, street food events and family activities, alongside four theatrical productions. Tickets go on sale on Friday 27 February at 12pm via www.storyhouse.com.
The first production of the season is Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story, running from 3 July to 23 August. Written by Kieran Lynn, the reimagined tale sets Robin, Maid Marion, the Merry Men and the Sheriff of Nottingham in an Ocean’s Eleven-style heist packed with humour, romance and political bite.
Set in Sherwood Forest, the bold new version features rewritten folk songs, audience interaction and high-energy fight scenes. The production is directed by Hannah Noone.
Next is Let The Sun Shine!, running from 10 July to 23 August. Written by Helen Redcliffe and directed by Rob Green and Lucy Thatcher, this coming-of-age story unfolds in a UK town in 1969 during a period of cultural change. When a Woodstock-inspired festival arrives, tensions give way to connection and joy as the town rediscovers community. With live amplified music, the audience becomes part of the festival atmosphere.
The annual family walkabout show will be Peter Pan, staged from 28 July to 13 August. Tailored for children under eight and their families, the production promises an interactive journey through Neverland featuring Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and the Lost Boys. Water pistol battles, pirate adventures and playful audience participation create a lively daytime experience.
The season will conclude with Nell Gwynn, presented from 21 August to 6 September in a co-production with Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre by the Lake. This irreverent Restoration comedy mixes music, dancing and historical storytelling as it follows the rise of the iconic orange seller-turned-actress in 1660s London.
Alongside the theatre programme, Grosvenor Park will feature the popular tepee bar, an expanded range of food, craft beers and frozen cocktails, and a Street Food Weekend from 27 to 28 June to open the season.
Additional summer activities include Moonlight Flicks, comedy evenings, murder mystery events, outdoor yoga sessions and family-friendly library craft and Rhyme Time sessions.
Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson said today: “Storyhouse in the Park and Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is the undisputed jewel in the crown of our summer programme, and we have a fantastic line-up of theatrical adventures for 2026 which I know are going to captivate theatregoers of all ages.
“Kieran Lynn’s The Gangs of New York was a huge hit when it was premiered in the park two years ago, so I’m absolutely delighted to announce we are staging his latest thrilling escapade, this time Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story, a bespoke new story for Chester audiences.
“In addition, Storyhouse head of producing Helen Redcliffe has turned playwright to deliver the second unmissable production of the Grosvenor Park season, the irresistible Let the Sun Shine! Which, of course, we’re sure it will after last year’s glorious summer. And we finish the two-month open-air programme with a third main stage show, the rip-roaring Nell Gwynn, a new co-production with the wonderful Shakespeare North Playhouse and Theatre by the Lake.
“Meanwhile our annual interactive walkabout shows for young children and their families have proved increasingly popular. This year we’re taking a trip to Neverland alongside Peter Pan, Wendy, Tink and the Lost Boys in a production which promises to be an exciting and magical experience.
“What makes Storyhouse in the Park so special is that it’s more than just theatre. It’s a space for families to spend time together, for friends to meet for comedy or a film under the stars, for people to try yoga in the sunshine, or solve a murder mystery after dark. Grosvenor Park becomes a cultural home for the whole city across the summer and we can’t wait to welcome you!”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
