A public performance has been held at Berkhamsted Castle for the first time in 15 years.
The open-air show of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance was allowed to take place at the castle site after the Town Council and Berkhamsted Arts Trust were given permission by English Heritage.
Nearly 400 members of the public attended the event at the historic site. The show was put on by production company Illyria.
The Berkhamsted Castle site houses the substantial remains of a strong and important motte and bailey castle dating from the 11th – 13th centuries, with surrounding walls, ditches and earthworks.
Show organiser Peter Matthews, of the Town Council, said the family event was “terrific”. He added: “We were close to capacity after selling all our tickets.
“The general feeling is we are now able to start using the castle for the people of Berkhamsted, rather than just keeping it as an ancient monument. I think that’s something we will be encouraging in the future.
“We have proved the point that the castle can be used for entertainment without detriment to the castle, the facilities there or health and safety.”
There were fears that the event would have to be cancelled at the last minute due to hurricane warnings, but the weather held out in the end.
Members of the public were invited to take their own seating of chairs or blankets. Audience members also took their own picnics, and hot drinks were served during the evening.