Nightingale Open-Air Ballet Comes to Leonardslee

30 May

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is hosting Nightingale, a new ballet production based on the life and works of Florence Nightingale by New Creations Collective, which brought the highly popular The Secret Garden to the estate in 2022.

The performance is set in the beautiful grounds of the Grade I Listed gardens of Leonardslee at Horsham, West Sussex, on Saturday 15th July, at 6pm. This is an original production, the first professional dance show to explore the life of Florence Nightingale, a complex national hero and female icon.

The show is a family-friendly, open-air production that takes the audience on a journey into Nightingale's story of struggle and success. Visitors can experience Florence's life from her family home to the battlefield.

The show features an original score composed by Adam Kornas and stunning, character-driven choreography by Nina Monteiro, performed by an accomplished cast of dancers and musicians. Narrated extracts from Florence's personal diaries bring her story to life through her own words.

New Creations Collective is a company of artists that blends classical and contemporary art forms to tell timeless, hope-inspiring stories. The collective says it creates versatile productions that can be adapted for a variety of venues, pushing the boundaries of typically theatrical art forms and bringing the show to the people.

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The estate offers a picnic experience with a range of options, including a children's picnic basket, available from the Clocktower Café, and the Leonardslee Afternoon Tea Picnic, which includes homemade finger sandwiches, traditional scones and more.

The Leonardslee Savoury Picnic features a range of savoury delights and traditional strawberries and cream. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are also available.

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is a Grade I listed estate in West Sussex and features a range of attractions, including the Beyond the Doll's House exhibition, classic afternoon tea in the mansion house, and a variety of entertainment events throughout the year. The estate reopened in April 2019 following two years of intensive restoration.

Nightingale is suitable for all ages, and visitors are advised to come suitably prepared for the outdoor show, which will go ahead in all weather conditions. The running time is 60-75 minutes.