YOUNG actors have been flexing their performance muscles by tackling three Shakespeare plays as part of a festival celebrating the works of the Bard.

The Richmond Shakespeare Festival, running all this week at venues around the town to mark the 400th anniversary since his death, is culminating in a performance at the Georgian Theatre Royal in the town by students from Richmond School and Sixth Form College, Richmond Church of England Primary School, and the Georgian Youth Theatre on Saturday, April 23.

Richard Wells, a year five teacher at Richmond CE Primary School, said his pupils had been getting stuck into Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“They have been really enjoying it,” he said.

“We read Macbeth as a class and they liked that, and they love the humour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“Shakespeare is part of our heritage and history so it is really important to keep it alive – and with adapted texts for young children they get a lot of enjoyment out of the stories.”

The school was approached by drama teacher Ian Henderson from Richmond School and Sixth Form College to take part in the performance, which is made up of separate short pieces from the different groups.

Mr Wells said: “The children had already been introduced to Shakespeare but this was the most detail they had gone into.

“They are really looking forward to the performance on Saturday, and for many it will be their first time on stage in a real theatre – it will be a fantastic experience for them.”

For ticket information contact the theatre box office on 01748 825252.