Chester Performs is an innovative arts producer based in Chester. This is our blog.

The world-class team to design and build Chester’s £37.5m theatre, library and cinema complex was announced today. National construction company Kier Construction and multi-award winning architects, Bennetts Associates, have been chosen to transform the former Odeon Cinema on Northgate Street into an iconic cultural centre. One of the UK’s leading architectural practices, Bennetts Associates was responsible for the design of the Stirling Prize shortlisted transformation of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the new Hampstead Theatre in London. Kier Construction is best known in the region for creating cultural developments... Read The Rest →

  We’re absolutely delighted to announced that Chester Performs has been shortlisted for a major northwest award, the Lever Prize 2014. The prize, inspired by the Bolton soap magnate Lord Leverhulme, is widely acknowledged as the highest recognition for an arts organisation in the region. The other shortlisted candidates are The Royal Exchange, Everyman and Playhouse, Contact Theatre and Manchester Museum. The winner is announced at a glittering ceremony in the New Year. Andrew Bentley, Chester Performs director has said “it’s our equivalent of the Turner Prize. Winning would be the... Read The Rest →

  We’re delighted to announce an extraordinary one-off concert to take place at Chester Cathedral on Friday 27th September. Celebrating the huge success of the MBNA Chester Music Festival, which took place earlier this summer, the special concert also marks the centenary year of composer Benjamin Britten. The Festival’s orchestra-in-residence Manchester Camerata will be returning to the city for the un-missable event and will be joined by the award-winning conductor John Wilson. Best known as the creator of the John Wilson Orchestra, which performs annually in the BBC Proms, Wilson is also a celebrated orchestrator, having produced many arrangements for film,... Read The Rest →

  We’re embarking on our final week of the 2013 season of Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and we can’t believe its nearly the end already! Its been such a wonderful summer  -we couldn’t have wished for better weather or, indeed better audiences! You’ve come out in your thousands this year and we’ve sold a record-breaking 15,000 tickets. We’ve spotted some amazing picnics amongst the crowds too -they get better every year! But it’s not over yet. If you haven’t been, there are still a few tickets available and you... Read The Rest →

  This Friday, 16th August, poet, author and musician Tim Clare will be bringing together a unique blend of humour, poetry and history in an alternative tour round some of Chester’s most interesting pubs! Starting at 7:30pm from The Bear and Billet, we’ll take a visit to The Slaughtered Lamb at the Cross Keys and The Ye Olde Kings Head before finishing up at our own regular haunt, The Marlborough Arms at 9:45pm. Tickets are just £10 each and must be booked in advance. Click here to book now   FAQs... Read The Rest →

  We’re delighted to announce a jam-packed programme of talks, workshops, readings and signing for this Autumn’s festival which takes place from 13th – 27th October. We’ve got some great names coming to Chester this October including Clive James, Tim Vine, Peter Snow, Richard Bacon and Henry Blofeld. There’s also a great line-up of workshops and lunchtime talks to explore. And, this year, we are introducing a new strand of public lectures in partnership with Chester University. We’re particularly excited about our A unique evening of music, poetry and UtterJazz on 19th... Read The Rest →

  The Grosvenor Park Young Theatre Company kicks off again this year with a new company of writers, actors, designers, directors and stage managers all set to create their very own production at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Over an intense three-week period, the full company will make use of the theatre’s set, costumes, props and expertise whilst working under the direction of Elisa Amesbury to produce and stage a one act play. Young writer Olivia Hicks won the commission to pen the new play which takes inspiration from Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Cyrano... Read The Rest →

Moonlight Flicks from Chester Performs on Vimeo.   We’re now nearly halfway through our gorgeous season of open air cinema and the intimate moonlit screenings are fast becoming the hottest tickets in town! Running until 31st August, we’re showing 8 of the greatest cult, classic and crazy movies in Chester’s beautiful Roman Gardens. It’s simple. Bring your camping chairs, a blanket and a few drinks and come along with your friends, family or your date; we’ll provide amazing movies, a perfect setting and a few little extras to brighten up your... Read The Rest →

We’re almost halfway through our summer season at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and its been our busiest year yet. So far, we’ve sold nearly 12,000 tickets to the unique picnic theatre and the glorious weather has helped us along the way! The theatre has received some great reviews too, both from national and regional press as well as our lovely audiences who have turned up in their thousands to watch the shows. Praise from The Guardian… “In four years, Chester’s Grosvenor Park theatre has grown into a perfect wooden O with audience... Read The Rest →

Family Saturdays is one of our newest projects and takes place every Saturday afternoon throughout July and August. -Simply come on down to Chester’s Roman Amphitheatre any time from 12-4 for free games, activities and workshops. Each week has a different theme from Medieval Mayhem and Giant Games to Weird Science and the Mad Hatters Tea Party. Find out more by visit www.familysaturdays.co.uk