Romeo & Juliet at Malahide Castle

What to Expect

Award-winning touring company Oddsocks Productions bring their new take on Romeo & Juliet to the West Lawn at Malahide Castle for one night this August. The company is known for finding laughs and pathos in the middle of dramatic tragedy, so expect a version of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers that leans into comedy and audience interaction without losing the heart of the story. It is staged as an open-air evening performance against the backdrop of the 800-year-old castle, which gives the whole night a distinctive atmosphere that an indoor theatre can’t match.

The show is pitched as a family-friendly night out as much as a piece of serious theatre, with the outdoor, picnic-style setting making it an easy option for a summer evening with older kids, teenagers studying the play for school, or anyone who wants Shakespeare without the stuffiness. Malahide Castle’s grounds have hosted open-air theatre and concerts for several summers running, and this is one of the headline dates in that programme for 2026.

Touring outdoor productions like this typically run to around two hours including an interval, keeping pace brisk enough to hold an audience sitting on the grass rather than in fixed seating. It’s also a useful option for anyone studying Romeo & Juliet for the Leaving or Junior Cycle, since seeing a live, physical staging tends to land the text differently than reading it on the page.

Good to Know

• Friday 21 August 2026, gates open 6:00pm, show starts 7:00pm
• West Lawn, Malahide Castle
• Presented by Oddsocks Productions
• Bring a picnic, a rug or a low-backed chair; standard fold-out chairs are generally discouraged at outdoor lawn shows
• Dogs are not permitted at the performance
• Proceeds in all but severe weather
• Book in advance through the Malahide Castle and Gardens website

Getting There

Malahide is on the DART line, roughly 25 minutes from Dublin city centre, with the castle a short walk from Malahide station. Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead services also run into Malahide village, and there is parking at the castle grounds, though arriving early is recommended for outdoor lawn events as spaces and good picnic spots fill up.