Open-air performances return to Markeaton Park Craft Village this summer, with puppetry, Shakespeare and film screenings scheduled across July and the first evening of August.
The 2026 Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season at Markeaton Park runs from Saturday 4 July to Saturday 1 August 2026 at Markeaton Park Craft Village, Markeaton Lane, Derby, DE22 3BG. Specific performance start times were not listed in the source text. Tickets are available through the Sales and Information Centre, by phone on 01332 255800, or via the Derby LIVE website, with booking in advance highly recommended. The programme is aimed at the general public and families.
July dates bring puppets, Shakespeare and cinema
Derby LIVE and Derby Parks are staging the Festival/Series in the Craft Village area of Derby’s largest and most historic park. The setting is part of the draw: live shows and film screenings are planned for an open-air space where audiences bring their own seating and prepare for whatever the British summer offers.
The season begins with Pop Up Theatre’s family-friendly Under the Sea Stories on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July. Later in the month, Shakespeare takes over the programme, first with Julius Caesar from Wednesday 15 to Saturday 18 July, then a comedic take on Romeo and Juliet from Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 July.
The closing weekend shifts from stage to screen. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is due to be shown on Friday 31 July, followed by Dirty Dancing on Saturday 1 August, both forming part of the outdoor cinema run on a giant inflatable screen.
What is scheduled at Markeaton Park Craft Village
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 July | Under the Sea Stories |
| Wednesday 15 to Saturday 18 July | Julius Caesar |
| Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 July | Romeo and Juliet |
| Friday 31 July | The Rocky Horror Picture Show |
| Saturday 1 August | Dirty Dancing |
The source confirms the dates and titles but does not list individual start times. Anyone planning around work, childcare or transport should check the ticket information before setting off.
How to prepare for the outdoor setting
Performances are planned as outdoor events and will go ahead in rainy weather, unless extreme conditions such as high winds force cancellation. Audiences are advised to dress for changeable weather, bring warm layers for cooler evenings and pack a torch.
Waterproof clothing is recommended if rain is forecast, but umbrellas should be left at home because they can block other people’s view. The Craft Village area is hard-standing, so visitors should bring their own low-backed chairs. Tables are not permitted.
For Julius Caesar, there is also an option to buy unreserved tiered seating in advance. That may suit visitors who do not want to rely only on their own chair for the longer theatre dates.
Food, drink, access and site rules
Visitors may bring a picnic. The Orangery café and Courtyard are also due to serve coffees, cakes, ice cream and cold drinks during the season.
A licensed bar will be available for Julius Caesar. Alcoholic drinks, snacks and popcorn will be sold for Romeo and Juliet, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Dirty Dancing.
The event site is described as fully accessible. Pay-and-display parking is available at the Markeaton Park Craft Village car park via Markeaton Lane, DE22 3BG, and the car park will remain open and lit until the end of evening performances. Disabled parking spaces are close to the gates.
Site rules include no barbecues, fireworks or bonfires. Smoking and e-cigarettes are not permitted within the enclosed Craft Village area. Dogs are not allowed on site, except assistance dogs.
Tickets are available from the Sales and Information Centre at 19 Chapel St, Derby, DE1 3GU, by phone on 01332 255800, or through the Derby LIVE website. An on-site box office is expected to open one hour before each performance, but the organisers say advance booking is highly recommended because these events regularly sell out.
Source: Derby City Council
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This preview is based on Derby City Council’s published notice for the 2026 Outdoor Theatre and Cinema Season at Markeaton Park.
- Confirmed the event dates run from 4 July to 1 August 2026.
- Matched the venue to Markeaton Park Craft Village, Markeaton Lane, Derby, DE22 3BG.
- Checked the listed programme titles and date ranges against the source text.
- Kept ticketing, access, parking and weather advice to details stated in the source.
- Source
- Derby City Council
- Scope
- Derby
- Updated
- 2026-06-22 14:28
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