Ilam Park: Summer Theatre: As You Like It by the Handlebards
Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards will be performing a fantastically funny bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’.
- Booking essential
What’s the play about? Well – Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee to the Forest of Arden, where they bump into Rosalind’s love interest Orlando. However, Rosalind is disguised as a young man. Cue some local Shepherds getting involved and the stage is set for a wild ride of wooing, hilarious mistaken identity and the odd wrestling match. This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to dig into, and dress for the weather!
★★★★★ – “Explodes with energy and is a genuine treat from start to finish.” – The Stage
★★★★★ – “Five stars just don’t seem enough…” – The Sunderland Echo
Doors open at 5pm. The Coach House café will stay open serving drinks and light bites including ice-cream. In case of rain please bring ponchos and raincoats. This is an outdoors performance and surfaces may be uneven, access to the theatre site is along an accessible path with step free access – if you have any access related questions ahead of the performance please get in touch! The beauty of Ilam Park and the iconic silhouette of Thorpe Cloud provide a truly unique and unforgettable setting, making this a perfect summer outing for the entire family. At Ilam Park, we’ll also be offering a Touch Tour before the show. The Touch Tour offers exploration of set, props and costume: offering an immersive space in which to imagine the work before the show begins. The touch tour will be at 4:15pm and you can book your place through the original link.
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| Adult 21 and under | £13.00 |
| Adult Standard Adult | £20.50 |
| Child Under 5s | £0.00 |
| Child 12 and under | £5.00 |
| All Donation | £5.00 |
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| Early Bird | £17.50 |
The basics
- Booking number
Call 01335 350503
- Accessibility
There is step free access to the performance site and we have a changing place and accessible toilet.
- Meeting point
Park in our car park, then follow our signs under the archway, past the YHA and check in at the table in front of Ilam Hall.
- Suitability for children
All families welcome!
- What to bring and wear
We're hoping for gorgeous sunshine but it may still get a little chilly in the evening so wear something warm for the evening and bring chairs and picnic blankets.
- Other
We'll be serving ice cream, light bites and drinks from the Coach House café in the Ilam Park stableyard.
Upcoming events
Ilam Park: Little Explorers Club
Step into the countryside with your little one at Ilam Park’s free monthly preschool nature club. Each session is set in the Coach House, with gentle adventures into nature, hands‑on seasonal crafts, and cosy story time.
Ilam Park: 2026 Guided Walks: Map Reading for Beginners
Join us for the day and learn a skill that has been used to travel the world for thousands of years!
Dovedale Big Litter Pick
Join us for a few hours at Dovedale and get your steps in, picking litter along the valley so the National Nature Reserve remains a great place for nature and people alike.
Ilam Park: Highlighted Event: Earthly Delights Art Installation
A new and exciting art installation is coming this summer! Celebrating the 200 year anniversary of Ilam Hall, Earthly Delights intertwines the stories of the past and present with an hub of plantlife.