A Resounding Success for Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season

Published: 9 August 2023

There’s been plenty of excitement in Markeaton Park Craft Village as our Outdoor Theatre and Cinema season returned this summer, generating an abundance of excitement and applause. This year there was a double bill of Shakespeare from Oddsocks Theatre and Derby Shakespeare Company. While Pop-up Theatre brought an interactive children’s performance, enjoyed by families who engaged while in the park. The season concluded with blockbusting films Bridesmaids and Top Gun: Maverick, with over 600 people attending and enjoying the outdoor film with picnics and friends.  

Oddsocks kicked off the season from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 July with their new adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic romp Much Ado About Nothing, infused with their signature hilarious and irreverent style. Audiences experienced the stage setting of lush gardens of an Italian villa during the height of summer, while the production blended Shakespeare with royal romcom.

Our second Shakespearean upstanding performance was provided by Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company, a local amateur group who wowed sell out audiences with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Their performance was enjoyed from Wednesday 19 to Saturday 22 July, earning exceptional reviews and applause.

Praising the Derby Shakespeare Theatre's performance, Jennifer described it as,

A very professional performance that was very atmospheric, set in a lovely surrounding.

while fellow audience member Bethany called it

An outstandingly funny and fantastic performance!

Picturesque Markeaton Park Craft Village theatre stage was then transformed to an outdoor cinema, where audiences laughed out loud at the hilarious Bridesmaids on Friday 28 July.  Saturday night the cinema embraced the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, where everyone watching was captivated as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) trains a new generation of Top Gun graduates for an unprecedented mission. The outdoor cinema experience was made complete with popcorn, pizza and drinks from The Orangery at Markeaton Park.

Cinema guest Mrs Bower had a fantastic time, describing her evening as,

An enjoyable cinema experience in a picturesque setting with great facilities and a lovely atmosphere.

Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season returns in Summer 2024. Watch out for the programme!

For updates and announcements, please visit derbylive.co.uk or follow Derby LIVE Facebook.

Culture