Rain or Shine Theatre Company will be visiting two Shropshire Council Outdoor Partnership sites as part of a national tour this summer.
Join them for the 18th Century comedy adventure, Sheridan’s The Rivals, at both The Mere, Ellesmere and Severn Valley Country Park.
Rain or Shine Theatre Company, a professional Gloucester based company known for their Classical summer season UK tours, will be bringing their own fast and funny version of the play as part of their national tour.
Outdoor theatre at The Mere, Ellesmere and Severn Valley Country Park
They have been performing at Severn Valley Country Park for over 10 years and this is their second visit to Ellesmere.
The al fresco farce for all the family starts when fashionable 18th century London society comes to take the waters in the spa-town of Bath. Comic confusion, daring duels and romantic entanglements are all abound. At the centre of it all is heiress Lydia Languish, who is determined to elope with the penniless Ensign Beverly rather than marry the eligible Jack Absolute.
This brand new adaptation combines Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s masterpiece with Rain or Shine’s fast and furious comic flair.
Ed Andrews Parks and Countryside Sites Manager for Shropshire Council said:
“We are delighted to welcome Rain or Shine Theatre Company to both The Mere and Severn Valley Country Park for their performance of The Rivals. This is a fantastic play that appeals to everyone, and we are sure that it will be a hit with our visitors.
“Both The Mere and Severn Valley Country Park are wonderful places to enjoy a summer evening of theatre, and a great opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy a classic comedy in two beautiful settings.
“We invite you to bring your friends and family, your picnic and your sense of humour, and join us for this hilarious show for a night of fun and laughter.”
The Rivals, is a Restoration Comedy which has delighted audiences for over 250 years with its collection of comic characters, including the formidable Mrs Malaprop, a creation so famous for the way she mangles the English language that her name is now immortalised in the dictionary.
The tour includes a performance at The Mere, Ellesmere, SY12 0PA on Saturday 3 August 2025 at 7.00pm. Doors 6.15pm, show ends 9.30pm.
And at Severn Valley Country Park, Alveley, WV15 6NG on Friday 8 August, doors 6pm, performance 7pm.
Tickets cost £16, child £8, and are available online at ticketsource.com or from the Rain or Shine credit card hotline: 03306 600541 (open 10.30am-7pm).
