Court of Camelot in magical outdoor theatre at Croxteth Hall

Aug 12 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table _220

MERSEYSIDERS have been spoilt for choice with the number of outdoor theatre productions on offer this summer, and here’s hoping the rain stays off for another taking place this evening.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is tonight’s show at Croxteth Hall and Country Park.

Within the historic settings of the park, the audience will be able to picnic before the performance, by Cornerstone Theatre Company.

The nine-strong cast will tell the classic tale of King Arthur, espe-cially written for the production, acted out on a round stage repre-senting the court of Camelot and featuring the well-known stories of folklore and more besides.

Writer Laura Turner said: “We’ve taken the traditional legend of King Arthur, which is something so integral to English history and British identity, and the myths and legends surrounding him.

“It starts with Arthur as a young boy and the Sword in the Stone, and meeting Merlin, and his coming of age and how he becomes a king and fulfils his destiny.

“There’s lots of familiar charac-ters and tales, like the romance with Guinevere and the legend of the grain and the green king. There’s lots of sword-fighting and exciting moments for children. It’s just an all-round family show with lots to offer everybody.”

Written especially for the smaller touring cast, the show is touring picturesque grounds and gardens up and down the UK and Ireland throughout the summer.

Cornerstone is touring five differ-ent productions, and visited Crox-teth Hall earlier this month with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Ms Turner added: “Although I haven’t seen it in Croxteth, I’ve seen it in several venues and it looks good. King Arthur is really a great story, something I’ve always been interested in, and we thought it was something a little bit differ-ent to other productions. Hopefully, it will go down really well.”

The one night only performance starts tonight at 7.30pm, with the grounds open for picnics from 6.30pm. Spectators are recommended to bring rugs or low-backed seating, as well as warm clothing and umbrellas, in case of rain.

Tickets (adults £12 and concessions £10) and information are from Croxteth Hall Gift Shop on 0151 233 6930.

The event is supported by Caudwell Children Charity, and refreshments available.

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk