Members of Finchfield and Castlecroft Community Association (FCCA) are helping to stage a series of cultural events over the summer in the picturesque surroundings of Bantock House Museum and Park.

They include plans for a second "Puppet Summer", following the success of last year's series of open air puppet shows. They will be produced in partnership with the National Puppetry Archive, and include 6 weekends of free shows for all the family throughout the summer holidays, as well as themed exhibitions and workshops.

In addition, the FCCA has commissioned 2 open air theatre shows which will be performed in July, a new play inspired by Chekhov's Cherry Orchard, Beautiful Shadows, which will explore themes of changing land use and declining green space, and Rivers Up, a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of climate change and coping with a flooded home.

Volunteers from FCCA will be supporting and stewarding all the events as part of their commitment to engage new audiences in quality cultural activity.

The programme is being developed with Creative Black Country, Black Country Touring and the City of Wolverhampton Council's Outdoor Events Team.

Andrew Atkinson from the Finchfield and Castlecroft Community Association said: "It is our ambition to help produce live entertainment for families in our part of the city. Bantock House and its grounds offer a fantastic setting for arts activity and we are keen to welcome regular and new visitors over the summer."

Mark Blackstock, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Head of Visitor Economy, said: "We are delighted at the enthusiasm and commitment that members of the Finchfield and Castlecroft Community Association have shown in developing this exciting programme of attractions at Bantock House Museum and Park this summer.

"We had a fantastic response to our first Puppet Summer in 2015, and this year's event promises to be even better, while we are excited about bringing open air theatre to Bantock Park for the first time with Beautiful Shadows and Rivers Up."

Further details of the events will be available in the coming weeks.

  • released: Monday 25 April, 2016