THE blooming marvellous setting of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the venue for a string of plays this summer.

For the next three Wednesdays theatre fans will be treated to outdoor performances of Jane Eyre, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest.

Lincoln-based Chapterhouse Theatre is returning to Birmingham after earning rave reviews last year performing Sherlock Holmes and A Midsummer Night Dream.

The group will be performing Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre on Wednesday as part of its 16th annual tour of idyllic garden theatres in the UK.

Then on Wednesday, July 8 the group will be reprising their production A Midsummer Night Dream when fairies, lovers and magic will return to the 15-acre gardens in one of the cultural highlights of the year.

On Wednesday, July 15, Gloucester-based Rain and Shine Theatre is bringing Shakespeare's The Tempest to the flowering gardens on July 15 when guests will be able to watch as the mystery of Prospero’s island unfolds in this family-friend performance.

James Wheeler, chief executive of Birmingham Botanical Gardens said: “The gardens are such a lovely space for theatre productions. Guests and families can bring their own chairs and blankets and enjoy a picnic in the sunshine while enjoying all of the action.

“The weather’s really heating up now, so it’s the perfect time to get out in the sunshine and be entertained by two very talented theatre groups.

"With three shows in July, there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy."

He added: "Our gardens are flourishing this time of year and will be bursting with vibrant colours and sweet smells that visitors will be able to enjoy during the performances.”