Nantwich Players

The Nantwich Players are a local amateur theatre group based in this charming market town in Cheshire, and they're worth catching if you're camping nearby. This isn't West End stuff - it's proper community theatre, the kind where locals tread the boards and everyone knows everyone in the audience. They put on a rotating programme of plays throughout the year, mixing classics with contemporary pieces, and the energy is genuine.

You'll find performances happen at their base in Nantwich itself, a town with real character - half-timbered buildings, salt heritage, decent pubs. The atmosphere at a Players show is relaxed and sociable. These are people who love theatre enough to do it for free, and that passion shows. It's intimate rather than slick, which appeals to folk who'd rather watch something with heart than polish.

Families with teenagers who enjoy theatre will get something out of it, and if you're into local culture, it's a genuine window into how communities keep the arts alive outside major cities. Check their website or ring ahead for what's on during your stay - you'll need to book tickets in advance as they don't have the capacity to absorb walk-ups.

If you're based at The Willows or Little Ranch Glamping just down the road, it's an easy evening out. Nantwich itself rewards an afternoon's exploration before curtain-up - the high street has independent shops, and the salt museum tells the town's odd industrial story. It's not a blockbuster attraction, but it's the kind of thing that makes a holiday feel local rather than touristy.