Theatre in the Park: The Three Musketeers - Carrickfergus and Ballymena

What to Expect

Outdoor touring company Illyria brings its picnic-friendly production of The Three Musketeers to Mid and East Antrim this August, with two performances in the borough’s parks. It plays Shaftesbury Park in Carrickfergus on Wednesday 19 August and People’s Park in Ballymena the following evening, Thursday 20 August. Illyria’s open-air shows are a long-running summer tradition across Britain and Ireland, staged with live music and a relaxed, bring-your-own-seating atmosphere rather than a formal indoor set. The performance goes ahead in all weathers, so a rug or low-backed chair and something warm to wear are worth packing alongside the picnic.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council brings this kind of outdoor theatre into its parks most summers, and the low ticket price reflects the council’s role in subsidising the visit rather than a full commercial touring rate. With two dates on consecutive evenings a short drive apart, families in either town have a genuine choice of which night suits, and anyone who misses the Carrickfergus date has a second chance the next evening in Ballymena. Because both shows are outdoors on grass, arriving a little early to get comfortably settled before gates close is worth building into the evening, particularly for the Carrickfergus date where parking is more limited than at the larger People’s Park site.

Good to Know

• Carrickfergus: Wednesday 19 August 2026, Shaftesbury Park, Joymount. Gates 6:00pm, performance starts 7:00pm
• Ballymena: Thursday 20 August 2026, People’s Park. Same gates and start times
• Running time approximately 135 minutes including a 20-minute interval
• Suitable for ages 8 and up, though younger children are welcome
• Tickets £5.45 plus a 50p booking fee per person
• Bring a picnic, a blanket or low-backed chair; the show runs regardless of weather
• Assistance dogs and well-behaved dogs on leads are permitted
• Blue badge parking is available at the adjacent St Bride’s Car Park in Carrickfergus

Getting There

Shaftesbury Park is just off Joymount in Carrickfergus town centre, a short walk from the train station and Carrickfergus Castle. People’s Park in Ballymena is close to the town centre and served by local bus routes. The venue is wheelchair accessible, though the grass surface can be uneven or muddy after rain.