Open Air Theatre at Newstead Abbey

About

Open Air Theatre
Newstead Abbey
Dates between Saturday 11 June and Sunday 04 September 2022

A fantastic season of open air theatre performances awaits this summer. The manicured gardens and beautiful ruins of Newstead Abbey, and the spectacular Elizabethan mansion and park at Wollaton are once again offering a range of theatre performances to delight all ages.

The first performance of the year is David Walliams' Awful Auntie (Sat 11 June) at Newstead Abbey, adapted for the outdoor stage by Heartbreak Productions. It's a truly thrilling tale of owls, ghosts, chases, escapes, motorcycle rides, and tiddlywinks as Stella evades her menacing Aunt and saves the family home.

• Saturday 11 June: Awful Auntie: (Heartbreak Productions)
• Wednesday 29 June: Pride & Prejudice: (Chapterhouse Theatre Company)
• Wednesday 27 July: Twelfth Night: (Three Inch Fools)
• Friday 12 August: Much Ado About Murder: (Heartbreak Productions)
• Friday 26 August: Jane Eyre: (Heartbreak Productions)
• Sunday 04 September: Peter Pan: (Ilyria)

To book, either use the Book Now button above or you can click the individually listed event below:

Please bring rugs or low-back seating. Performances go ahead in all but the worst weather.

Full listings

Saturday 11 June: Awful Auntie: (Heartbreak Productions)

Awful Auntie by David Walliams, adapted for the outdoor stage by Heartbreak Productions, is a truly thrilling tale. Owls, ghosts, chases, escapes, motorcycle rides, and tiddlywinks all fill Stella’s days as she evades her menacing Aunt and saves the family home. So, please join us at the dedication of the new playground at Saxby Hall and hear how it all came about. Make sure you bring a blanket or chair to sit on, weather-appropriate gear, and a picnic, as the tale could take some time to tell, and storytelling can be hungry work!

The new playground at the Saxby Hall Orphanage is finally complete, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. The orphanage was founded by Stella Saxby, who some of you may remember. Her parents were killed in a car crash in 1933, leaving her an orphan, all alone with her Awful Auntie. And when we say awful, we mean awful. Aunt Alberta and her best friend Wagner, a vicious Bavarian owl, tried everything they could to torment Stella into signing over the deed to Saxby Hall. But Stella, with the help of her friend Soot (the ghost of a chimney sweep, but friends come in all shapes and sizes, don’t they?) fought off Aunt Alberta, saved Saxby Hall, and gifted the beautiful Saxby Hall to be used as an orphanage.

Book Awful Auntie

Wednesday 29 June: Pride & Prejudice: (Chapterhouse Theatre Company)

Chapterhouse Theatre Company presents Pride and Prejudice. Take a step back in time as we meet Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters. Whilst their interfering mother engineer’s various courtships, Elizabeth and Jane must pursue their own quest for true love. Amidst mistakes and miscommunications, can Elizabeth finally surpass her prejudices to see past the proud exterior of the enigmatic Mr Darcy? 

Join family and friends for what promises to be the most splendid evening of the summer as you picnic under a beautiful summer sky and lose yourself in this unforgettable love story.

Book Pride and Prejudice

Wednesday 27 July: Twelfth Night: (Three Inch Fools)

The Three Inch Fools are dusting down their musical instruments and hitting the road with Shakespeare’s riotous comedy, Twelfth Night.
Prepare for an evening of mischief and hilarity, as five actors present an inventive take on this rip-roaring comedy, fit for all the family. Touring the UK this summer, this Shakespearean classic will be getting the full Three Inch Fools treatment: expect fast-paced drama, endless costume changes, and much music-making along the way!

Book Twelfth Night

Friday 12 August: Much Ado About Murder: (Heartbreak Productions)

Don your detective cap and join Heartbreak Productions for some super silliness this summer. Our original murder mystery will set five suspects under the spotlight, and we will depend on the audience to find answers. Who was lurking in the corridor carrying a candlestick? When did the third gunshot go off – before or after the very silly song? And probably most importantly, why didn’t you pack a larger picnic? 

Answers to these and other equally important questions will only be uncovered as we make Much Ado About Murder (an original murder mystery by Heartbreak Productions, performed, as are all our shows, out of doors, so check the weather, dress appropriately, and bring a picnic).
Book Much Ado About Murder

Friday 26 August: Jane Eyre: (Heartbreak Productions)

Step right up, ladies and gents, to Heartbreak Productions’ Carnival Spectacular - complete with astounding acrobats, jaw-dropping jugglers, and our very special guest - the death-defying escape artist Jane Eyre. Watch her wriggle out of five different tight corners, including everyone’s greatest fear – fire!

Heartbreak is delighted to present this original adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic, Jane Eyre, for the outdoor stage. We follow our favourite Victorian heroine through her many ordeals, using the backdrop of a carnival, as she escapes from her aunt’s house, her school, the fire, the moors, and finally finds safety with her true love, Mr Rochester. Harrowing at times and heart-warming at others, this romantic tale is best enjoyed at one of our gorgeous outdoor venues, with a picnic, of course!
Book Jane Eyre

Sunday 04 September: Peter Pan: (Ilyria)

Wendy Darling is certain she saw the face of a boy at her bedroom window 3 floors up – yet no-one believes her. So who can blame her when she agrees to fly away to the idyllic Neverland with him? But is Neverland as perfect as it seems? Or will the evil Captain Hook and his band of pirates kill Peter and rule over it themselves? 

Peter Pan was first performed by Illyria in 1997. It has been performed outdoors many times since by many different companies. But Illyria’s 2022 production will be the first to feature REAL flying!
Book Peter Pan