We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been selected by Arts Council England to take part in their Catalyst programme  which could see them invest a further £204,000 with us over the next three years, by matching funds raised from individuals and charities.

We’re one of 22 organisations in the North West chosen to take part in this exciting pilot scheme which should help us maximise the effect of some of our projects including this summer’s exciting Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre!

Great news!

nb if you’re wondering what this beautiful picture is from, it is Something Wishful, our mass extravaganza on a semi frozen River Dee in 2008..

You might not feel you need it (we’ve never lost a performance yet.  Chester seems blessed with a summer evening micro-climate..…) but if you’re looking for a extra insurance from on high, these Roman style canopies may well be for you.

We’ve modelled our design on the valarium that used to cover the back of the great Roman amphitheatres.

Simply select the covered terrace option when you book your tickets.

Playing Malvolio in both plays (one of 5 characters from Twelfth Night who make a re-appearance in the sequel Masters Are You Mad?) is Matthew Rixon, son of Northwich born Matthew Kelly. Matthew recently starred in Endgame at the Liverpool Everyman with his father.

Also joining the cast as Curio is Liverpudlian and former LIPA student Chris Lindon, who recently starred in chester based soapHollyoaks. His theatre credits include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet at York Theatre Royal.

Welsh native Scott Arthur, has just finished filming for the BBC’s cult show Being Human, he’s also starred in ITV’s Lewis and numerous radio plays. Theatre credits include The Cherry Orchard, Great Expectations, West Side Story and Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale. He’ll play Twelfth Night’sAguecheek.

LAMDA graduate Lorna Beckett will play Twelfth Night’s Olivia. For television she has appeared in the hit CBBC series MI High while her theatre credits include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf at the Sheffield Crucible, As You Like It at the Oxford Playhouse and The Taming of the Shrew for Ouds Theatre.

From Drama Studio London Krupa Pattani will play Twelfth Night’s female lead Viola, who deceives her kinsmen into believing she is a man. Krupa has starred in MI High and Casualty.  She has performed in theatres across the UK.

Recent graduate of the Old Vic Theatre School, Sarah Lambie will play Valentina, the female lead inMasters Are You Mad? She’s appeared in Measure for Measure, Othello, The Country Wife andThe Crucible.

Victoria Gee will play Maria in Twelfth Night, she recently performed in Othello for the Northern Broadsides and in the Liverpool Everyman’s Billy Liar.

The cast of 14 will perform in ‘rep’ for 2 productions, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and a new play Masters Are You Mad? The Search for Malvolio. 

The 320 seat theatre, designed by city based Chester Performs, is set to have an extra 120 seats from 2013, raising total capacity to 22,000 seats.

Already hailed as the highest quality open air theatre season outside the capital and a smash hit since its debut in 2010, we expect demand in excess of 80% over the 49 shows this summer. Plans have been put in place to increase seating to cope with demand.

Andrew Bentley of Chester Performs said  “Our aim has been to achieve international acclaim for the work we are doing in Chester. We’ve had an amazing start and this year we are trying to raise our aspirations again. We expected to outgrow our capacity in 2014 but it is looking like we are going to get there a year early. When we designed the theatre we allowed for the addition of two further rows of terraced seating to be added to the back.  It will lose none of its intimacy and certainly none of its friendliness.”

The season, taking place between 6 July – August 19, features Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night andMasters Are You Mad? …The Search for Malvolio, a hilarious sequel written by Glyn Maxwell, writer of last year’s hit Merlin and the Woods of Time.

Twenty-five cultural champions from the North West were honoured for making a significant contribution to the arts through volunteering, business advice or philanthropic giving. Guests at the reception were treated to a recital by Chetham’s students before the Cultural Champions collected a certificate in recognition of their support.

Geoff has being instrumental in the development of Chester Performs since its inception in August 2005 and director Andrew Bentley has said: “Geoff has shown unwavering commitment not only to Chester Performs but to the art and cultural offer across the city. This ceremony provides organisations with the opportunity to thank their champions amongst fellow supporters of the arts, whose work is truly invaluable.”

You can find out more about the event which was organised by Arts and business here.

The announcement came last Monday at a glamorous evening reception held in the Abode Hotel’s Champagne Bar to mark the official launch of the new summer season of high-quality theatre.

Andrew Bentley of Chester Performs has said of the announcement “Having Essar on board as production sponsor is fantastic news and testament to the success of Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. Now in its third year, it has already established itself as one of the most respected outdoor theatre experiences in the country.”

Cllr Stuart Parker, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s executive member for culture and recreation, added “It is critical that such high quality cultural ventures like the Open Air Theatre have the support of local business. The event has come to be something the city is hugely proud of and we’re very grateful to Essar as we announce their sponsorship this evening.”

Essar’s public affairs manager Ed Brady is also delighted with the new relationship saying “All of us at Essar are looking forward to this summer’s season. The unique event has clearly come to mean a lot to the people of Chester and the surrounding areas and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. The relationship with Chester Performs is a very welcome addition to our sponsorship portfolio.”

The critically acclaimed theatre is set to return from 6^th July – 19^th August with two new productions. -Alongside Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, sponsored by Essar, a newly commissioned work by multi-award winning writer Glyn Maxwell called Masters Are You Mad? will be performed by the same cast of some of the country’s finest actors.

The 2011 productions were described by the critics as ‘simply stunning’ and ‘nigh on perfect’ while Maxwell’s comedy Merlin and the Woods of Time received national praise as ‘a warm-hearted, family friendly hoot’.

Tickets for this summer’s Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre season are already on sale and can be booked online at www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk or by phoning the box office on 0845 241 7868.

We are looking for a 30 – 40 minute prequel to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. However, what, where and when the action takes place is entirely up to you!

Up to five writers will be selected to attend a workshop led by the multi-award winning writer Glyn Maxwell. The session will cover script proposals, offer feedback, advice and next steps.

One writer from the session will then be given the opportunity to develop their ideas into a play directed by the Bolton Octagon’s Associate Director Elizabeth Newman. The play will be performed by the 2012 Grosvenor Park Young Theatre Company on 12th and 13th August.

Click here to find out more, including how to submit your proposal.

The custom made 320-seat wooden structure is set to see an exciting new development with the introduction of a gladiatorial-style canopy over part of the terrace seating.

“Now in its third year, the theatre hasreally established itself as a major cultural venue in the North West and is the only full time professional open air theatre company outside London.

“The addition of a canopy reflects the needs of a wider audience and the new covered seats will offer both shelter and great views. They are already proving popular and are being snapped up by eager theatre-goers taking advantage of the opportunity to plan ahead and book early.

”It is anticipated that the 2012 season will see 11,500 customers descend on the unique picnic theatre from the across the region and beyond to enjoy the high-quality productions.

From 6thJuly – 19thAugust, 49 performances of two new productions; Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy Twelfth Night and a new sequel from award-winning writer Glyn Maxwell entitled Masters Are You Mad? will be played out in ‘rep’ by a full-size cast of some of the country’s leading acting talent.

Tickets start from just £12.50 and audiences can now choose from picnic spaces -grassed areas to spread out with chairs and rugs, picnic terraces, wide bench-style seating, and the new covered picnic terraces which will provide some of the best views of the entire theatre. The ever-popular VIP packages are also available.

For more information including how to book, visit http://www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk/

2012 marks the unique picnic theatre’s third year and over 46 days and balmy nights this coming summer, you have the chance to find out why its making such a splash!

Described by the national press as ‘the northern alternative to Shakespeare’s Globe and Regents Park Open Air Theatre’, Grosvenor Park is the only full time professional theatre company outside the capital.

The 2012 season will include two new productions of Shakespeare’s much loved comedy Twelfth Night and a new play by multi-award winning writer Glyn Maxwell entitle Masters Are You Mad? The two shows will be brought to life by a full-size cast featuring some the country’s leading actors, directors and designers.

As ever, it pays to book early -we operate an ‘airline’ pricing policy which means that ticket prices rise according to demand. But, tickets start at an amazing £12.50 and there are lots of concessions available.

So, if you’ve got the winter blues, why not start planning your summer now and head on over to the Grosvenor Park Website to find out more, including how to book.

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre.

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We’re currently looking for a committed stage management team, To find out more, click here.