Theatre & Concerts

Norton Priory Museum and Gardens welcomes Illyria's sparkling production of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' as part of the 'Summer of Stories' programme.  This outdoor theatre production will be performed on the medieval remains of Norton Priory's cloister.

With her tongue firmly in her cheek, Jane Austen tells us “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Mrs Bennet certainly thinks so. So when Mr Bingley – single, young, handsome, and with £5,000 a year – moves into nearby Netherfield Park, she devotes all her energy to contriving for Jane, the eldest of her five daughters, to meet him during rural Hertfordshire’s whirlwind of social balls.

But even Mrs Bennet draws the line at Mr Bingley’s disdainful friend Mr Darcy despite his whopping £10,000 a year. Thank heavens Lizzy, her second daughter, finds him detestable too! Or does she…? Can she see beyond his pride – and could he overcome her prejudice – to consider a possible future together?

Following seven sell-out seasons of this sparkling adaptation, award-winning Illyria prepares to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in style. This is an outdoor theatre performance. Audience members are invited to bring chairs and / or rugs to the performance. Please note that as Norton Priory is a Scheduled Monument, nothing may be staked into the ground. Bring a picnic and enjoy her at her vibrant, forthright, bitchy best! Running time: 140-minutes (approximately), including a 20-minute interval. Suitable for all ages.

Please note that the performance starts at 7:00pm. Gates open at 6:30pm.

Following several years of sold-out outdoor Shakespeare at Norton Priory, this hard-hitting 'Romeo and Juliet' adaptation from multi-award winning A Place For Us Theatre delivers a story which resonates across the ages. Set in the stunning Woodland Theatre space, passion, violence and urgency explode in a bold, high energy production. With dynamic, visceral performances, heart-stopping drama and immersive staging this 70 minute adaptation creates an unforgettable theatrical experience under the open sky.

Friday 27th June 5:30pm

Saturday 28th June 5:30pm

Running time approx 70 minutes.  No interval, but bring a picnic!

Suitable for ages 9 and upwards

"…The torment is real, the hideous crimes authentic, the anguish and grief tangible – each scene, each actor, each movement, played with passion and credence. It was superb…" (***** Northwest End Review – Macbeth 2024) 

Experience Shakespeare's dark tragedy like never before as raw ambition, betrayal and supernatural dread ignite the stage. After a sell-out run in 2024, this five-star abridged and accessible version of Shakespeare's chilling play returns to the atmospheric woodland theatre at Norton Priory this June presented by multi-award winning A Place for Us Theatre for limited performances only. 

Something wicked this way comes...

Friday 27th June 7:30pm

Saturday 28th June 7:30pm

Running time approx. 70 minutes - No interval but bring a picnic!

Suitable for ages 9 upwards.

"...the torment is real, the hideous crimes authentic, the anguish and grief tangible - each scene, each actor, each movement played with passion and credence. It was superb..." (***** Northwest End Review)

Pack your picnics and join Ratty, Mole, Badger, and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime, culminating in a colourful battle to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels!

Multi-award nominated Immersion Theatre proudly bring their trademark style and energy to Norton Priory, where the riverbank is brought to life on the excavated remains of the priory. Expect heaps of interaction, stunning costumes, toe-tapping music, and larger-than-life characters as part of Norton Priory's Summer of Stories programme.

A TOAD-ally terrific treat whether you’re 4 or 104!

Summer Songbook is a fusion of well-known music from across the world, in this special performance to mark Norton Priory's Summer of Stories programme.

The playlist for this event will include classics such as Summertime, I Dreamed A Dream, O Mio Babbino Caro, All I Ask Of You and many more. Nicola's sublime voice is perfectly complemented by the music talents of Maria King, as they fill Norton Priory's atrium with music and song.

Don't miss out this special fundraising event to mark the 50th anniversary of Norton Priory Museum Trust, the independant charitable trust which has operated the museum since 1975.

Come and be a part of our story and listen to some of Nicola and Maria's favourites on what promises to be a very special summer evening of song and celebration. It's the perfect feel good moment!

There's plenty of free car parking and refreshments will be available on the evening. Tickets at £16 for adults and £10 for children, with discounts available for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.

'Summer Stories' features excerpts from classics such as Of Mice and Men, Prima Facie, Macbeth, Blythe Spirit and The Importance of Being Earnest.  

VML also presents two premieres written especially for Norton Priory:  'Priories and Poltergeists' and 'The Cellar of Doctor Addison'.  Come and join us to experience these live performances, at different locations around the museum and grounds during the course of the afternoon. 

This is a Discover Norton event and is included with General Admission, plus children go free!* Book online ahead of time for a discount! Pre-booking closes at 11:45 the night before your visit. But if you miss out, you can pay for General Admission on arrival!

*Up to 3 children free per full priced adult ticket, additional children will be charged.

Join in and help create our very own giant mandala inspired by the moasic shapes of the medieval floor tiles found during the excavations. The original floor at Norton Priory covered some 500 square metres which meant around 40,000 tiles were made and laid in a variety of patterns. Learn about how the tiles were made and help our artist to use the mosaic shapes to create an amazing colourful new circular mandala used by Hindu and Buddists for meditation and well being.

Medieval health and well being crafts and activities for all ages will uncover how the Canons at Norton carried out their duty of care for the sick.

Monday and Tuesdays activities in the summer holidays are included with general admission. 

Children go free!* Book online ahead of time for a discount! Pre-booking closes at 11:45 the night before your visit. But if you miss out, you can pay for General Admission on arrival!

*Up to 3 children free per full priced adult ticket, additional children will be charged.

Join Halton Libraries as we share stories celebrating nature and the great outdoors. Staff from Halton Libraries will share stories and help you join in a simple activity – easy enough for you to re-create at home in your own outdoor space. Bring along a picnic blanket or a chair for the session.

Suitable for ages 3-10 years old.

This is a Discover Norton event and is included with General Admission, plus children go free!* Book online ahead of time for a discount! Pre-booking closes at 11:45 the night before your visit. But if you miss out, you can pay for General Admission on arrival!

*Up to 3 children free per full priced adult ticket, additional children will be charged.

Poet Lynn Pegler takes us on a fascinating illustrated tour ‘Around Cheshire in 100 Poems and Pictures’,  performing lively monologues and verse from her new book, inspired by the county’s intriguing people, places and history.  The poems explore the culture of Cheshire and the stories which form part of the county's DNA.  The subject of the poems is wide and varied, and you'll find some little known facts and humourous moments within Lynn's witty, playful and engaging verse.

The event will be held in the first floor gallery in Norton Priory's contemporary visitor centre, with views across Cheshire's most important monastic remains.  The gallery can be reached by lift or stairs and there is free car parking in front of the building.  There will be an opportunity to purchase signed copies of the book during the evening.

Tickets are £12 for adults and £7 for children, with discounts for members of Norton Priory.

Lynn Pegler is a poet, award-winning playwright, journalist and PR consultant. She has lived and worked in Cheshire for more than 25 years and serves as one of the county’s Deputy Lieutenants.  She is also the Chair of Norton Priory Museum Trust's Board and is the Festival Manager for the Weaver Words literary festival, which celebrated its seventh year in 2025.

She also holds an MA in Creative Writing from the Manchester Metropolitan University, has written/directed four plays and published a poetry collection ‘Salford Quays Unlocked – Voices of Manchester Docks’.

Join Norton Priory's Archaeology and Collections Director Lynn Smith on a tour of the 2025 archaeological excavations on the Priory grounds.

From 18th August to 12th September, we will once again be ‘Digging for Norton’ as we continue to excavate the servants wing of the manor house and the possible location of the medieval infirmary. Our archaeologists will be joined by a small team of volunteers.

Special tours of the dig site will be held on selected Fridays in August and September, and limited spaces are available.

Places must be booked in advance thorough Art Tickets.  Visitors will meet in the atrium at 1.45pm and be taken to the dig site.  

Please note: The tours take place on the priory ruins.  The ground may be uneven so please wear suitable footwear.  Due to the location of the dig site, this tour will not be fully wheelchair accessible. 

Introducing 'The Tempest', Shakespeare’s most magical play bursting with mayhem, comedy, romance and surprises!

Having developed a reputation for producing first-rate, critically-acclaimed, and highly accessible adaptations of Shakespeare’s work, Immersion Theatre – the multi-award nominated company behind last year’s smash hit 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream', proudly presents 'The Tempest"='; Shakespeare’s unforgettable tale of magic, romance, comedy, and revenge!

With heaps of audience participation, this mesmerising show will be brought to life in unforgettable style, perfect for both, seasoned theatre-goers and newcomers to Shakespeare’s work.

Not to be missed! Suitable for ages 8+

Pre-booking for this event is essential! Pre-booking closes at 11:45 the night before the event, so book now to avoid disappointment!

Celebrate St Augustine's Day with The St Nicholas Singers. This popular chamber quintet are are delighted to be returning to Norton Priory to help us celebrate St Augustine of Hippo, who's teachings influenced the medieval canons of Norton.

The afternoon will feature historic summer music including madrigals, part songs and choral pieces by early composers, with musical references to St Augustine. Performance times will be advertised on the day, and will take place at various locations around the museum and outdoor grounds.

This is a Discover Norton event and is included with General Admission, plus children go free!* Book online ahead of time for a discount! Pre-booking closes at 11:45 the night before your visit. But if you miss out, you can pay for General Admission on arrival!

*Up to 3 children free per full priced adult ticket, additional children will be charged.

Join us for a truly memorable musical experience in the stunning surroundings of Norton Priory as we present an evening with the award-winning Cheshire Chord Company, led by the talented Joanne Braham.

This versatile and vibrant ladies a cappella chorus, based in the heart of Warrington, brings together singers from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups, creating a rich tapestry of talent, harmony, and joy.

Specialising in high-energy, captivating performances, the chorus delivers a diverse repertoire – from soul-stirring ballads to toe-tapping pop hits, and from contemporary favourites to the timeless harmonies of barbershop classics. Every performance is infused with passion, precision, and a shared love of music.

Proud members of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS), Cheshire Chord Company has earned national acclaim, winning nine National Ladies UK Championship titles, most recently in 2023.

Set against the historic backdrop of Norton Priory, this event promises an evening of musical magic, camaraderie, and celebration. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the world of barbershop, you’ll be moved, inspired, and thoroughly entertained.

Don't miss this chance to hear one of the UK's premier a cappella ensembles perform in one of Cheshire’s most picturesque venues.

VML Theatre Ltd returns to Norton Priory to bring us a traditional Christmas Carol concert featuring classic and well loved carols.

The concert takes place in our our 12th century undercroft, with the choir adding extra historical sparkle to the evening in Victorian period costume.

Concert starts at 7pm. Refreshments will be available on the evening.