Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is now open

Shannaz Posted On July 10, 2025

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First look at the joyous Pride and Prejudice as it returns to the park to enchant Chester theatregoers

Intriguing new adventure for Sherlock Holmes and charming Alice in Wonderland experience still to come

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is now open – and here is the first look at the cast bringing Jane Austen’s enchanting Pride and Prejudice to life for Chester audiences.

The 2025 open-air season, presented by Storyhouse, runs until 31 August.

Adapted for the stage by Deborah McAndrew and directed by Conrad Nelson, Pride and Prejudice returns to the park by popular demand after being premiered to acclaim four years ago.

Alyce Liburd plays Lizzie Bennet and Ethan Reid is Mr Darcy in Austen’s most famous love story which unfolds in exuberant and witty fashion in the park’s theatre-in-the-round.

The 2025 Grosvenor Park cast also includes Hannah Baker, Tom Benjamin, Victoria Brazier, Howard Chadwick, Laura Chinnery, Jessica Jolleys, Abigail Middleton, Eddy Westbury and two talented trainee actors from Storyhouse – Ella Clancy and Amy Hope-Thompson.

Pride and Prejudice, which opened on Friday, will run in repertory from 18 July with a new live stage version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, written especially for Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre by Molly Taylor and directed by Ellie Hurt.

Set in modern-day Chester and featuring many well-known names as well as some new larger-than-life characters, the story sees consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner-in-solving-crime Dr Watson thrust into the spotlight as they are drawn into their most intriguing – and personal – mystery yet.

Tickets for both productions are on sale priced from £22.50 and concessions are available. All performances are captioned.

Meanwhile primary age youngsters and their families are invited to embark on an enchanting adventure in the park with the Alice in Wonderland walkabout theatre experience.

The show, which runs from Friday, 25 July to Saturday, 30 August, encourages audiences to tumble down a rabbit hole and follow Lewis Carroll’s curious tale through the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre festival site, meeting a cast of unforgettable characters along the way – including the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Cheshire Cat.

The journey culminates with a fabulous finale inside the open-air theatre itself.

The Grosvenor Park festival site includes the ever-popular tepee bar, seating areas, fresh wood-fired pizzas, a barbecue, craft beers and frozen cocktails.

A series of special events will also take place over the two-month open-air season, including murder mysteries – The Crown Duels: Gangs of Chester on 8 July and 22 July, and the Witch Hunt era-set The City of Curses on 9 July, and a new interactive gameshow for young audiences, Pipes and Poo, from 10-12 July.

Enjoy some relaxing mindfulness with a special Yoga in the Park session on 13 July, a free Pups in the Park on 20 July, promising exciting activities and pup-friendly vendors, and Comedy in the Park on Sunday 24 August.

And on 2, 3, 28 and 30 August, young visitors are invited to an Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter tea party featuring a selection of delicious treats and a chance to meet some of their favourite characters from the Alice in Wonderland walkabout experience.

Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson said today: “What a fabulous opening weekend on stage in Grosvenor Park! It’s joyous to return for a summer of live theatre and we couldn’t have wished for a better start to the festival season.

“Deborah McAndrews’ Pride and Prejudice proved a huge hit when it was premiered in the park four years ago, and audiences are already loving this latest production which brims with the same vivacious warmth and wit.

“Of course this is just the start of the summer, and along with Pride and Prejudice, anticipation is growing for Molly Taylor’s ingenious new version of Sherlock Holmes, set in Chester, which opens next Friday, followed later this month by the captivating Alice in Wonderland walkabout for young audiences which will complete our live theatre programme for 2025.”