CHESTER'S Storyhouse, producer of the award-winning Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, has announced a main sponsorship package for major city employer MBNA.

Since 2013, MBNA has been a principal sponsor for Storyhouse, supporting various projects including the Chester Music Festival and Storyhouse’s wider activity at the Hunter Street venue.

This year, it’s throwing its support behind the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre which takes place each summer in Chester’s city centre park.

For 2020, the theatre will stage its first ever Jane Austen story: Pride and Prejudice. A new version of The Jungle Book and Shakespearean comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. It will run between July 3 - August 30.

Anna Johnson from MBNA said: “We are thrilled to announce our support for Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre and its popular programme of shows. It is wonderful to have such a well-loved event and cherished part of the cultural calendar in Chester.

“At MBNA, we are proud to work in partnerships with local businesses who put the community at the heart of what they do.

"All of this year’s shows are innovative and full of imagination and we are excited to watch them come to life in the theatre’s circular walls.”

This summer the season at the park is the longest ever, running for eight and a half weeks.

Andrew Bentley, CEO of Storyhouse said: “We are delighted to have MBNA on board as principal sponsor. Last year, over 23,000 people attended the open air theatre, it simply would not be possible without the generous and enthusiastic support of our sponsors and partners.”

Glyn Maxwell, whose previous plays at the open air theatre include Wind in the Willows, Cyrano de Bergerac and Alice in Wonderland, will adapt a new version of The Jungle Book. It will feature the beloved characters Baloo, Bagheera, Shere Kahn and Akela.

Shakespeare’s outrageous comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, will be the Shakespeare offer, made relevant for a contemporary audience and serving up the bawdy banter that the Grosvenor Park theatre is so well known for.

Kate Mylchreest, head of development at Storyhouse, said: “We are excited by our continued partnership with MBNA and the benefits that the park can offer from their generous sponsorship.

"We are able to plan some really original ideas that will hopefully be lots of fun this summer!”

Tickets are available from £26.50 and can be booked at grosvenorpark.co.uk