Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season Returns This Summer

The popular Outdoor Theatre and Cinema season will return to Markeaton Park from June to August. It will bring a fantastic selection of al fresco entertainment for all ages to enjoy, amid the beautiful surroundings of the park.

Derby LIVE and Derby Parks will be bringing audiences a double bill of Shakespeare from Oddsocks Productions and Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company, an exciting interactive performance from AVP Theatre perfect for families, and showings of two blockbuster films.

Held in Markeaton Park Craft Village, the season will start on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June with AVP Theatre and their cast of puppets returning with a brand-new set of fairytales in their Pop-up Theatre: Red Fairy Storybook. The family-friendly show retells some famous fairy and folktales including Jack and the Beanstalk, The Frog Prince and The Princess and the Pea. 

There’ll be lots of interaction, laughs, and a few surprises along the way. At the end of the show, step forward to meet the cast themselves, as the puppets hold their own meet and greet. Shows are at 11:30am and 1pm. Tickets are £5 or £4 for concessions. Children under 12 months old do not need a ticket.

Next up will be outdoor theatre favourites, Derby-based Oddsocks Productions, with their touring adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. It’s Rome in 44BC. Egotistical Emperor Julius Caesar is sweating (and it’s not just the heatwave). His liberal Senators are a stabbing pain in the backside. They’ve had enough! Rome is in chaos, trust in the government is weak and the emperor’s fate is written in the stars (or the ‘entrails of a goat’). The peasants are revolting as the most famous political coup in literature is given the Oddsocks treatment.

Expect the tearing of togas, the swishing of roman swords, some preposterous puppetry and the biggest battle scene five actors have ever created. The show runs from Thursday 27 until Saturday 29 June at 7pm. Tickets are £18 or £16 for concessions.

Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company will bring their modern presentation of Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet, to the stage from Wednesday 24 until Saturday 27 July at 7:30pm.

Gang warfare rages on the Verona council estate between the tenants of Capulet Heights and Montague Tower. It’s here where we lay our scene. Romeo loves Rosaline, but she’s having none of it. Juliet’s Dad is throwing a party and you’re all invited. Lovers’ stars are about to get crossed, fates twisted and hearts broken. Tickets are £15.

These mesmerising theatre shows will be followed by two of the biggest films to hit the big screen in the past 12 months. On Friday 2 August, Markeaton Park Outdoor Cinema Season brings you Wonka (PG).

Armed with nothing but a hatful of dreams, young chocolatier Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) manages to change the world, one delectable bite at a time. With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers. The show starts at 9pm and tickets are £16.

Then take a trip to Barbie Land with the Golden Globe-winning Barbie (12A) on Saturday 3 August. Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) are having the time of their lives in the colourful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans. When her home world is in peril, Barbie returns with the knowledge that what makes her different also makes her stronger. The show starts at 9pm and tickets are £16.

So gather your friends and family, pack up your chair and bring a delicious picnic as you enjoy what the 2024 Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season has to offer.

Of course, the season wouldn’t be complete without the delectable offerings from The Orangery, our on-site caterers. The Orangery will be serving speciality coffees, infusions, cakes, ice creams and refreshing cold drinks. You can also enjoy cold draught beers, cider, wines, themed cocktails, popcorn and pizza at the Julius Caesar, Barbie and Wonka showings, so go ahead and indulge yourself!

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism, said: “Derby’s Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season is back for 2024 with a really exciting programme of innovative theatre and blockbuster films. We’re delighted to have two fantastic local theatre companies in the line-up. The beautiful Markeaton Park is the perfect backdrop for a memorable summer evening enjoying the entertainment with friends and family.”

Tickets for the Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season are now available from the Sales and Information Centre at 01332 255800 or online at derbylive.co.uk.