Theatre group Heartbreak bring plenty of joy to outdoor theatre in Sheffield Botanical Gardens

Heartbreak Outdoor Theatre return to Sheffield for a 19th year with open-air performances in the beautiful setting of the Botanical Gardens.
An audience waiting to see a Heartbreak productionAn audience waiting to see a Heartbreak production
An audience waiting to see a Heartbreak production

The Railway Children is an adaptation of Edith Nesbit’s classic children’s story.

In the production, all trains from Giggleswick have been delayed, and what better way to pass the time than performing the adventures of The Railway Children?

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After their father is imprisoned for the suspected selling of state secrets, Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis move to a small cottage in the countryside by the railway.

They delight themselves with watching the trains pass – but their lovable charm and enthusiasm leads them to become involved in more mishaps than they thought possible in the sleepy countryside!

Settle in with a blanket and picnic (and perhaps umbrella to be safe) and join Heartbreak and the children as they are left to their own devices to roam the railway tracks, form unlikely friendships and set about bringing their father home.

This is a heart-warming adaptation for all ages, and some audience participation may be required to set the wheels in motion.

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The show is on Saturday at 2.30pm & 7pm and Sunday at 5pm

In another family show, David Walliams’ bestselling children’s book The Midnight Gang hits the outdoor stage.

The Heartbreak team are back to raise money for a new MRI scanner for the children’s ward at the struggling Lord Funt Hospital, home to the villainous Matron and a scary-looking porter.

Will the children ever have any fun? Watch as at the stroke of midnight chaos ensues and five children rebel by forming the Midnight Gang.

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But just where do they go? When 12-year-old Tom arrives at the hospital, he is determined to find out.

A heart-warming and funny series of events follow in the Midnight Gang’s quest for adventure.

Show times are Saturday, August 4, 2pm and 6.30pm, and Sunday, August 5 at 5pm

Heartbreak are much loved for their open-air Shakespeare productions.

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Tonight and tomorrow, Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing has been adapted with a war-themed setting.

Alongside the plot of the Shakespearean cast, the British Red Cross are entreating the audience for their support in a ‘play within a play’ format.

Bring along a blanket or chairs and a picnic to enjoy whilst you get caught up in the humorous banter between oblivious lovers Benedick and Beatrice, and watch the plots unfurl which test Hero and Claudio’s love at first sight.

With a masquerade ball, accompanying ukulele interludes and a charming side narrative, this play engages with themes of disguise and deception and grows into a celebration of unexpected love.

The show is on at 7.30pm tonight and tomorrow. Book for all shows online at www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk. And the show always goes on, even if the heatwave suddenly breaks!