MEMBERS of a community theatre company have taken time out of rehearsals for their latest Shakespeare extravaganza to appear as Suffragettes at an open air museum.

The Castle Players, who have delighted audiences with outdoor Shakespeare for over 25 years in the grounds of Barnard Castle's Bowes Museum, were at the Edwardian Town, at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, today (Tuesday, June 9).

The visit comes as they they prepare for this year’s production - a version of The Merry Wives of Windsor, set in the early 20th century.

Merry Wives director, Mary Stastny, said: “We always try to find a new angle for our productions, and the Suffragettes and Edwardian music hall fits exactly with the themes of the play, which is a bit of romp.”

Much of the action is set in The Garter Inn, Windsor, where the comic character of Falstaff, down on his luck, tries to seduce the two richest women of the town.

Ms Stastny said: "In our show, The Garter Inn will be filled with less reputable ladies who mock the more visionary and well-heeled Suffragettes of Windsor.”

Another feature of the show will be a motorised miniature period tram. Members of the cast took a ride in the real tram, complete with an original tram-driver’s costume loaned by the family of Michael Wheeler.

Mr Wheeler’s son Angus is chairman of The Castle Players and appears as the character of Master Page in the production.

Angus’ father Michael, a former councillor and mayor in Barnard Castle, who died in 2010, was one of the first people to drive a tram at Beamish Museum.

The Merry Wives of Windsor runs at Bowes Museum at 7.30pm from July £7 to £11. Tickets are £6 to £18. Contact 07748 708619, visit the The Bowes Museum or online at www.castleplayers.co.uk.