The landscape of Liverpool’s summer cultural calendar has been confirmed as Shared Reading charity The Reader unveiled a full slate of events for the season ahead in Calderstones Park.
This summer sees the return of open-air theatre, a ukulele festival, free garden parties and literary events, including a big end-of-summer family festival, all in Liverpool’s stunning Calderstones Park.
The UK’s biggest Shared Reading charity, The Reader, today announces its full Summer 2026 programme at its home in the historic Grade II listed Mansion House.
The upcoming season at the historic Mansion House is set to feature an inspiring literature programme spotlighting Elizabeth Gaskell, Latin American literary talent, and the best summer beach reads.
Gaskell, a Victorian author who has seen a surge of interest by younger readers on the back of Bridgerton, will be the focus of a dedicated day on Saturday, 8 August.
This event explores her social commentary and vivid portrayal of Victorian life through her most popular works, Cranford, Mary Barton and North and South.
Literary Masterclasses and Shared Reading Highlights
The literary programme includes a special focus on Latin American literature by Argentinian-based Professor Estela Meije, who founded a long-standing international Shared Reading project inspired by The Reader.
She will be visiting the charity’s home in Liverpool to lead two Masterclasses in mid-July, titled Microfiction and Voices from Argentina.
Other highlights include Bookshop Summer Escapes on 19 June, where the literary team from the charity’s indie bookshop will reveal their must-read recommendations for the best beach reads, travel-inspired stories, and sun-soaked page-turners.
Further educational opportunities include two masterclasses led by The Reader’s founder Dr Jane Davis, inspired by writers George Herbert, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Jeanette Winterson.
Additionally, Charles Dickens’ classic Great Expectations is this summer’s Deep Read, explored over six weeks from June to July.
For those focused on personal growth, three summer Wellbeing Workshops will feature literature from The Reader’s 2026 Bookshelf, including Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Open-Air Theatre and Community Festivals
Drama will take centre stage in the Garden Theatre at The Mansion House as the energetic three-strong touring theatre troupe The Handlebards returns to perform Shakespeare’s Macbeth with a twist.
This production is described as being chock full of mishaps, mayhem and mirth.
These cycling Shakespearean actors carry their set, props and costumes on the back of our bikes, while touring the UK.
This will be followed on 6 August by award-winning outdoor theatre company Illyria, who will present a family-friendly production of The Three Musketeers.
As warmer days and lighter evenings approach, the park will host its popular free drop-in Garden Parties with live music on 3 May, 26 July and 16 August.
Attendees can pop up a deckchair, lay out a picnic blanket or browse the Library on the Lawn for a chilled afternoon with a sizzling BBQ and summer tipples.
The summer also marks the return of the free Ukulele Festival on Sunday 14 June, featuring live performances from the best ukulele groups in the North West.
Supporting Community Literacy and Wellbeing
The season concludes with the third annual Storybarn Fest on 30 August, an outdoor courtyard takeover at The Storybarn and Ice Cream Parlour featuring face painting and a barbecue.
Explaining the significance of the programme, Katie Clark, Director of Literature at The Reader, said:
“This summer season is the perfect opportunity to gather together and discover works by many of today’s most exciting writers, including those from Latin America, alongside outspoken Victorian voices from Elizabeth Gaskell to Charles Dickens, which offer a strong societal commentary.”
Clark further noted the charity’s broader mission, stating:
“More so than ever, we’re proud to spotlight the essential role the written and spoken word takes in reflecting our most pressing societal issues, while also celebrating the immense power of great writing to express our inner lives, provide space for debate, and inspire positive change during this National Year of Reading.”
The Reader is the UK’s biggest Shared Reading charity, dedicated to connecting more than 25,000 adults and children with literature to improve wellbeing, literacy and community cohesion.
