Let the Sun Shine!
- Richard Evans
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Helen Redcliffe
Storyhouse Chester
Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Chester
July 10-August 23, 2026; 2hrs
The premise behind Helen Redcliffe’s Let the Sun Shine is an intriguing one. How does the staging of a rock festival in a nearby farmer's field affect a local village? Especially when that village seems stuck in the past and hidebound by tradition.
Set in the hippy era of the late 1960s, this show - part of the Storyhouse open-air summer season in Chester's Grosvenor Park - gives plenty of opportunities for some great music by the liks of the Who, Jimmy Hendrix and Aretha Franklin.
The play contrasts the vibrancy, optimism and energy of a festival to the traditional, rather staid activities of a summer fair, complete with maypole and morris dancing. Caught in the middle are Harry - son of the local greengrocer - who secretly listens to Radio Caroline; and Joan, a middle-aged woman, stuck in a rut and still grieving the loss of her son while he was in the RAF. Both end up attending the festival and find it a liberating, transformative experience, but some local villagers fight to have the event closed down, finding the permissive, free-love attitude offensive.
As with the previous summer show, Outlaws, the cast approaches the evening with energy, enthusiasm and plenty of talent, several performers combining acting and playing an instrument. The group also takes any opportunity to get audience members up on stage or just plain involved - notably Abigail Middleton, with an entrancing mime.
The performance is a genuine team effort, but several people stand out: Annabelle Aquino as Cloud, Lucas Button as Harry and Kate Milner-Evans as Joan.
While the play has some lovely moments, the plot does ramble from one element to another. It does mention, at least in passing, some important issues, including patriarchy, sexual freedom, the right of a woman to control her body, and the destruction of local communities by crushing congolmerates. But no single issue is explored in depth, and the ending has a different premise than the start, focusing on when to let a child become an adult. While the play is enjoyable, it's not clear what its author is trying to communicate most.
The atmosphere in the Grosvenor Open Air Theatre is always special, and the audience reacts warmly to what is on stage. Though the storyline might not be thoroughly convincing, this is still a highly enjoyable evening's entertainment: the cast received a fittingly warm reception.
More info and tickets here
