SOME of the North-East’s most talented young singers perform in a new concert of song and opera taking Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary as its inspirations.

Samling Academy will stage A Lover and his Lass at the Saltburn Community Theatre, in Saltburn, tomorrow - Saturday July 23 - at 7.30pm.

The 14 Samling Academy singers, aged between 15 and 22, are accompanied on stage by award-winning pianist and Samling Artist Ian Tindale, with the concert directed by Samling Artist Miranda Wright.

The concert draws together some of the Bard’s greatest work as set to music by composers including Schubert, Britten, Howells and Tippett, including texts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet and As You Like It.

The young Academy singers will also intersperse the music with some short readings from Shakespeare’s plays.

The production, staged last night at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, is the latest from Samling Academy, which is developing the next generation of classical singers in the North-East through unique training and performance opportunities with the best professional artists and coaches.

Samling creative development manager Mary Emmett said: “‘We are especially pleased to be performing at The Witham for the first time, as well as returning to Saltburn and its Community Theatre.”

She added: “Saltburn Community Theatre hosted performances of both our Samling Academy Opera productions in 2013 and 2015, and we have always been made welcome with strong support from within the community.

Tickets for A Lover and his Lass are on sale at www.saltburnarts.co.uk or call 01287-624997.