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Many of Cheshire’s performance venues are not necessarily theatres, but can be Leisure Centres, libraries, clubs or parks for open air performance.

The Council’s website has an Events listing and you can go to our Rural Arts pages for events in rural locations.

Your local library is always a good source of information on events locally. Check the Cheshire Libraries area of the site.

Theatre links for you to browse

• Crewe Lyceum Theatre Crewe
• Theatr Clwyd Mold, Flintshire
• Development of the Arts in Northwich
• Daneside Theatre Congleton
• Harlequin Theatre Northwich
• Action Transport Theatre Ellesmere Port
• The Stockport Plaza Theatre 

What's On in Cheshire Districts?

Chester Mystery Plays

Every five years, this unique medieval tradition is revived in the historic city of Chester. It’s a spectacular festival of earthy, funny and moving plays drawn from the bible and presented by an amateur cast and crew of hundreds from the local community.

The Mystery Plays are one of the earliest forms of street theatre and were revived in 1951 for the Festival of Britain. Originally a series of Biblical dramas enacted by medieval craftsmen and guildsmen, these groups took their theatre to the public on open carts through the city. Original texts have survived in five English cities, Chester’s being the most complete in existence today.

Chester Mystery Plays remain a treasured part of our 2000-year-old city's cultural heritage and a highlight of the arts events calendar attracting people from all over the world. For news on last and next plays, visit Chester Mystery Plays

• What's on in Chester
• What's on in Congleton
• What's on in Crewe and Nantwich
• What's on in Ellesmere Port and Neston
• What's on in Macclesfield
• What's on in Vale Royal

Amateur Dramatics

Thriving amateur dramatics societies usually perform closer to home. Theatres in this category in Cheshire include:

• Little Theatre (Chester Theatre Club)
• Bollington Arts Theatre, Wellington Road, Bollington
• Civit Hills Theatre, Macclesfield
• Little Theatre (MADS) Macclesfield
• Nantwich Players Theatre Pillory St, Nantwich

Here is a full list of Drama Groups. If you would like to join or watch a performance, you can get details from the contacts listed.

Further useful links:

The Cheshire Drama Centre has a Costume Hire Service for amateur dramatic societies and the general public. They also do musical instrument hire but this is for Schools only. They are based at the Verdin Exchange, High Street, Winsford CW7 2AY.  Tel 01606 814380/274381 in term time only on Mondays 1pm-6.30pm and Tuesdays 11am – 6pm.

Amateur Dramatic is focused on setting up, running and joining an amateur dramatics society.

Amdram.co.uk is a free website for the amateur theatre community. It includes free resources for groups and individuals interested in amateur theatre.