EXCLUSIVE FIRST PEEK AT REHEARSALS FOR GROSVENOR PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE 2026

The countdown is on with Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre opening its doors this weekend – and today can be revealed exclusive photographs from the rehearsal room where cast members are bringing two of its unmissable new shows to life.

The 2026 Storyhouse in the Park season runs from 27 June to 6 September. Tickets are on sale now priced from £20.25 for Storyhouse Members.

Gangs of New York playwright Kieran Lynn returns to the outdoor theatre-in-the-round with a bold, feelgood reimagining of one of Britain’s greatest legends. Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story opens on Friday, 3 July and runs until Sunday, 23 August.

And Helen Redcliffe’s uplifting transformational drama Let The Sun Shine! runs from Friday, 10 July to Sunday, 23 August.

The cast for the two productions are David Ahmad, who plays King John in Outlaws and Arthur in Let The Sun Shine!; Annabelle Aquino as Marian/Cloud; Rebecca Bainbridge as Scarlett/Veronica; Lucas Button as Sheriff of Nottingham/Harry; Lawrence Hodgson-Mullings as Robin/Bobby; Sorrel Jordan as Guard/on stage understudy in Outlaws/Claire and lead drummer in Let the Sun Shine!; Zoe Lambert as Much/Viper/Villager 1; Abigail Middleton as Alana/Puck/Mrs Granger and onstage understudy in LTSS; Kate Milner-Evans as Rose/Joan; Perry Moore as Little John/Sunny/Vicar and Robert Wade as Old Sherriff/Guard/onstage understudy/PC Hamer.

Four trainee actors also form part of the 2026 Grosvenor Park cast. In Outlaws, Lewis Baron will play the roles of Citizen/Guard/Old Sheriff understudy Rachel Uyigue will appear as Citizen /Guard/King’s Scribe. In Let the Sun Shine! Owen Ellis will play Bear/Understudy PC Hamer and Lauren Lees is Luna/understudy Mrs Granger and Puck.

They have spent the last few weeks hard at work creating magic in the rehearsal room with Hannah Noone who is directing Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story, and with Lucy Thatcher and Rob Green who are co-directing Let the Sun Shine!

Meanwhile Outlaws’ composer and musical director is Matt Baker, choreographer is Jess Williams and Kaitlin Howard is fight director.

Outlaws: A Robin Hood Story director Hannah Noone said today: 

“It’s great to be back working with the brilliant Storyhouse team again this year, and this time with a play that is perfect for the iconic Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre.

“Bringing Kieran Lynn’s clever reimagining of one of Britain’s greatest legends to life alongside this exceptional cast and creative team has been a joy from start to finish. Grosvenor Park audiences are in for something special.”

Rob Green and Lucy Thatcher, who are co-directing Let the Sun Shine! added: 

“The spirit of the 1960s is alive and well in Helen Redcliffe’s witty and fast-paced musical and we’ve had a fabulous time working with this band of very talented actor-musicians on what is a heartwarming and life-affirming story full to the brim with brilliant tunes.

“Given the current hot weather, Let the Sun Shine! is also an incredibly apt title, and hopefully the sun will continue to bless our run at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre this summer.”

Alongside Outlaws and Let the Sun Shine, families with children under eight are being invited to embark on a vibrant interactive adventure in the company Peter Pan in a walkabout show which runs from Tuesday, 28 July to Thursday, 13 August.

And finally, Jessica Swale’s Olivier Award winning Nell Gwynn comes to Grosvenor Park from Friday, 21 August to Sunday, 6 September in a co-production with Shakespeare North Playhouse and Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake. The fresh and acclaimed new staging is directed by Bryony Shanahan.

The Storyhouse in the Park festival site once again features the popular tepee bar, with a wider variety of food choices than ever before, craft beers and frozen cocktails, alongside the vibrant Street Food Weekend this Saturday and Sunday which launches the season with live music and free entry.

Across the summer visitors can also enjoy:

• Moonlight Flicks – the return of Storyhouse’s atmospheric open-air cinema

• Live comedy evenings

• Thrilling Murder Mystery events

• Outdoor yoga sessions in the park

• Rhyme Time and Library Craft sessions for families

For more details, including full dates and ticket prices, visit: 

www.storyhouse.com

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