University of Leicester Announces Exciting Summer Events Programme in Partnership with Attenborough Arts Centre and Oadby & Wigston Borough Council
The University of Leicester is delighted to unveil its 2025 Summer events programme, delivered with Attenborough Arts Centre, in partnership with Oadby & Wigston Borough Council. Designed to bring people together through culture, entertainment and shared experiences, this summer’s offering showcases a diverse range of activities and entertainment in an idyllic outdoor setting.
The programme kicks off with Leicester Comedy Festival in the Botanic Garden on Saturday 14 June 2025, bringing an exciting lineup of established comedians and up-and-coming talent to the picturesque surroundings of the garden for an afternoon and evening of laughter, produced by the Big Difference Company.
On Saturday 5 July 2025, Inspirate, Leicester's leading organisation in contemporary South Asian arts and culture, brings its flagship festival, An Indian Summer, to Oadby, as one of the key events within the festival programme. This will be the first time the festival has expanded beyond the city centre, and this day long programme within Botanic Gardens will immerse audiences in outdoor theatre, music and family activities.
The University will welcome Dukes Theatre Company back to the Botanic Garden for the third year in a row, with their gripping production of Macbeth on Wednesday 9 July and Thursday 10 July 2025. The open-air performances will bring Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy to life in the perfect surroundings for the play’s drama and atmosphere.
Rounding out the summer series will be the return of the University’s Botanic Garden Festival on Sunday 31 August, the University’s popular and free community-focused event, featuring a range of family activities, entertainment, food and drink for all ages.
Speaking on the significance of this year’s programme, Vijay Sharma, the University of Leicester’s Pro-Chancellor for Community, said: "The University of Leicester is proud to present this summer programme for all our communities to come together, connect, and celebrate culture in its many forms. Our events are a fantastic opportunity for local people to engage with the Botanic Garden and all that the University has to offer. Through our partnership with Oadby & Wigston Borough Council, we particularly hope to reach new audiences from across both the borough and city and bring them to the Botanic Garden for the first time.”
This year’s events programme follows two previous successful years which have attracted over 5,000 additional visitors to the Botanic Garden over the summer months.
For more information about event timings, tickets and updates, please visit the University of Leicester website.