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Find out what we thought of The Borrowers at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre in Chester with The Storyhouse.
Yesterday we whiled away a lovely afternoon in Grosvenor Park, first having a picnic in the beautiful grounds of the park which is right by the river in Chester. Followed by 2 hours watching The Borrowers produced by The Storyhouse.
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is now in its 10th Year but it’s the first time we’ve made it down to this lovely outdoor setting.
Grosvenor Park is located in the heart of Chester city centre and the theatre itself is just into the park at the city end. Theatre doors open one hour before the performance start time, and as seating is unreserved they do recommend arriving early so you can all get seated together particularly if you’re in a larger group.
What I loved about the setting was that having reserved our seats with coats and water bottles it was fine for us to head back out into the wider theatre area and allow the kids to play hula hoop and ball games burning off some energy before the show started.
There is also the opportunity to buy food and drink BUT what’s amazing is that you are very welcome to bring your own snacks, picnic or hot food along with you, and drinks (including alcohol). We saw lots of people happily tucking into M&S picnics along with glasses of prosecco.
So enough about the theatre itself – what did we think about The Borrowers?
Well Colette and I LOVED it. It felt like a big warm cuddle and a real blast from the past, however that’s not to say that they hadn’t updated it. References to Brexit and amusing acknowledgements that none of the literary quotes referred to came from female authors gave the script a more modern feel.
This brand-new version of Mary Norton’s irreverent children’s story of the little people who borrow in order to survive is fresh and funny and very very clever. Arietty, Pod and Homily Clock leave their home beneath the floorboards to explore the world beyond and get into all sorts of trouble leaving the rest of the Borrowers clan to try and find them in the big wide world ‘outside’.
I did wonder at times whether all the kids were keeping up with the plot and the movements on stage, but as my seven year old explained the plot to her Dad later in the evening I realised she had.
Whilst I really enjoyed the script, and the musical elements; I simply loved the cricket in a box, it was the props and the costumes I continually found myself getting swept up in. They were quite simply brilliant. I spent longer than I should have done examining peoples trousers and dresses and even finding an M&M turned into a hat!
There are still a few showings of The Borrowers available in August and I’d highly recommend you go. Under 12’s go free with a full paying adult so get yourself down to Chester for a treat. https://www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk/
Do take a look at what Colette thought too https://www.goingonanadventure.co.uk/the-borrowers-at-grosvenor-park-open-air-theatre-review/
Recommended for children 6 +
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Oh… I remember reading The Borrowers stories. I loved them. It must have been great to watch this show!