The opening play

The opening play of the 11th outdoor theatre season at Lytham Hall has drawn a capacity audience for the first time ever.

An audience of 400 will attend the production of Macbeth on Friday 9 July by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men who will be making their debut at Lytham Hall. Ticket sales were up by 500 per cent a fortnight after bookings opened on April 17th and now the final few tickets have been snapped up in June.

Bookings for the other five plays in the largest programme staged at Lytham Hall are also way ahead of normal and organisers are hoping for over 3000 theatre enthusiasts to come through the gates during the season.

A similar boom is in evidence in support from local businesses as Patrons. The total now is an unprecedented 28, as Paul Rowley, new owner of Le Roti Sandwich Rotisserie in Lytham’s Park Street joined the team last week. The first season in 2010 had just three plays and five Patrons.

Theatre organiser at Lytham Hall Julian Wilde believes that the season’s programme of plays is benefitting from a post lockdown bounce.

“The combination of one of Shakespeare’s most gripping plays, a company new to Lytham Hall, some glorious sunshine and the opportunity simply to be outdoors with friends and family is proving irresistible.”

Advance bookings for the five plays in July and August are also 200 per cent up on the usual levels at present. Comedian Steve Royle’s acclaimed performance in “Naturally Insane, the life of Dan Leno” on Friday 9 July is proving a popular attraction, following his appearances on Britain’s Got Talent lastt autumn.

Details of any returned tickets available for Macbeth will be posted on the Lytham Hall website on Monday 13 June.

On line bookings for the summer season www.lythamhall.org.uk

Photo Ronnie Locke and Rhys Warrington in rehearsal.