THE death of Britain’s most famous playwright is being celebrated with a night of music.

Durham University is holding a Shakespeare concert in Durham Cathedral on June 3 as part of celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death.

Music and theatre students will be putting on the concert on the opening night of their festival of the arts.

Almost 200 musicians will be performing from groups including Durham University Orchestral Society, Palatinate Orchestra, Brass Band and Concert Band.

There will also be performances from vocal ensembles, Durham University Chamber Choir, Durham Opera Ensemble, Durham University Light Opera Group, and Northern Lights: DU A Cappella.

The programme includes Shakespeare inspired classics such as Prokofiev’s “Montagues and Capulets” from Romeo and Juliet, Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” from Kiss Me, Kate and music from West Side Story.

In between musical acts, members from Durham’s Student Theatre will perform extracts from Henry V, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet.

The concert starts at 7pm and tickets, which are priced between £10 and £20, are available from www.musicdurham.org/shakespeare or Durham World Heritage Visitors Centre.