The Lord Chamberlain's Men return to us this summer for another outstanding outdoor theatre performance!
We are delighted to welcome back The Lord Chamberlain’s Men to us this summer as they perform William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ in our beautiful gardens. See this all male cast perform in true Elizabethan costume in the open air. Tickets for the evening performance on Thursday 3th August 2023 are on sale now!
The beautiful backdrop
As you turn the corner into your venue for the evening, cast your eyes on the beautiful Knowsley Hall, an authentic stately home dating back to 1495, the home to The Earl & Countess of Derby. With all our Shakespearian connections, there couldn’t be a more fitting venue for this thrilling tale. As the sun sets across the Hall’s gardens, you’ll be transported into a different time.
Authentic Shakespeare
The Lord Chamberlain’s Men pride themselves on their authenticity! Their excellent performance is delivered by an all male cast, in the open air, paying homage to how Shakespeare’s plays would have originally been performed. Come and be enchanted by their exciting performance, thrilled by the beautiful Elizabethan costumes and delighted by this captivating love story – Romeo & Juliet.
An outdoor experience to remember
There’s nothing better than sitting out in your garden on a summers evening. Except maybe sitting in our garden with a picnic and watching a play! Here in the private grounds of Knowsley Hall we invite you to bring a picnic and a bottle of bubbly to make this a truly special evening!
Exclusive access
As Knowsley Hall is home to The Earl & Countess of Derby and an exclusive event venue, we are excited for this rare occasion when we open our doors to the public. For all the love and attention that goes into creating this beautiful venue, it’s great to show it off to you all. So, come along to this exclusive night and feel like a VIP!
Family connections
There are strong links between Shakespeare and the Earls of Derby. During the late 16th century, Prescot town had the only purpose-built indoor Elizabethan theatre outside the capital. We are delighted The Shakespeare North Playhouse, a £38 million replica Jacobean theatre inspired by the Bard has opened on our doorstep in Prescot, attracting visitors from around the globe.
The 5th Earl of Derby (pictured below) maintained a company of actors, Lord Strange’s Men, one of whom was William Shakespeare. It is through Lord Strange’s Men that Knowsley is connected with Shakespeare and are thought to have travelled to Knowsley to perform when the London theatres were closed because of the plague, so will almost certainly have visited Knowsley Hall . The 6th Earl continued the family’s patronage of Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night’s Dream was first performed at his wedding to Elizabeth de Vere in front of Queen Elizabeth I.
