Three open-air theatre nights coming to Nottingham
Open-Air Theatre at Wollaton Park returns to Nottingham for three performances between Tuesday 16 June and Monday 3 August. The shows take place in the Formal Gardens at Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, with gates opening one hour before each production begins.
The season is open to the general public and is aimed at anyone who enjoys live theatre, outdoor performances or a picnic in the park. Visitors are encouraged to bring food, blankets and camping chairs, although the venue asks audiences to use rugs or low-back seating.
Ticket prices are not stated in the supplied Visit Nottinghamshire event listing, so visitors should check the event information before making plans or travelling.
Three productions across the summer season
| Date and time | Performance |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 16 June, gates 6pm; show 7pm | Three Inch Fools: King Arthur and the Holy Fail |
| Friday 24 July, gates 5pm; show 6pm | Illyria Theatre Company: Pinocchio |
| Monday 3 August, gates 6pm; show 7pm | The Pantaloons: Sherlock Holmes & The Hound of the Baskervilles |
The season begins with Three Inch Fools and its comic take on Arthurian legend. King Arthur and the Holy Fail follows a would-be hero pushed into an unlikely quest after Camelot is shaken by a peculiar incident involving a large table. The production mixes medieval adventure with deliberately unruly humour.
Illyria Theatre Company arrives on 24 July with Pinocchio. The familiar wooden puppet runs away in search of adventure but instead encounters demanding bosses, con-artists, peer pressure and a succession of attention-grabbing distractions. Its 6pm start makes it the earliest performance in the programme.
The final date brings Holmes and Watson to the Formal Gardens. The Pantaloons’ new version of The Hound of the Baskervilles combines the Baskerville family mystery with live music, audience interaction and the company’s inventive comic style.
What to bring to Wollaton Hall
This is an outdoor season rather than a conventional indoor theatre visit. Picnics are encouraged, and audiences should bring their own rugs, blankets or low-back chairs for seating in the Formal Gardens.
Performances are expected to continue in all but the worst weather. Visitors should therefore choose clothing and picnic equipment with outdoor conditions in mind, while avoiding seating that could obstruct the view for people behind them.
The performance area is within Wollaton Hall & Deer Park rather than inside Wollaton Hall. Anyone attending should allow enough time to reach the Formal Gardens before the show, particularly because gates open exactly one hour ahead of each advertised start time.
Accessibility information is available through Wollaton Hall’s dedicated accessibility page, according to the event listing. The supplied information does not give production-specific arrangements, so visitors with particular access requirements should review the venue guidance while planning their visit.
A compact alternative to a full festival timetable
Rather than running on consecutive nights, the Open-Air Theatre season places three separate productions across June, July and August. That gives audiences a choice between Arthurian comedy, the story of Pinocchio and a comic Sherlock Holmes mystery without requiring a multi-day visit.
Nottingham audiences interested in similar productions elsewhere can also read about summer theatre in Chester, where another outdoor programme is planned for 2026.
Visit Nottinghamshire lists Wollaton’s season as running from 16 June to 3 August 2026. For every performance, the practical arrangement remains the same: arrive after gates open, bring a picnic if desired, and use a rug or low-back seat in the Formal Gardens.
Source: Visit Nottinghamshire Events
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The dates, performance times, venue and visitor guidance were checked against the supplied Visit Nottinghamshire event listing.
- Confirmed three performance dates between 16 June and 3 August 2026.
- Checked the advertised gate and show times for every production.
- Confirmed that the stage is in the Formal Gardens at Wollaton Hall & Deer Park.
- Noted that the supplied listing does not state ticket prices.
- Source
- Visit Nottinghamshire Events
- Scope
- Nottingham
- Updated
- 2026-07-20 18:33
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