WORLD famous actors such as Kenneth Branagh, Jeremy Irons, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen are on the invitation list when the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) celebrates its silver jubilee of Newcastle seasons in November.

RSC associate director Michael Boyd said: "We would like a celebration which reflects the people who have taken part in our seasons over the past 25 years."

There is a strong possibility that one of the three high-profile plays announced yesterday for Newcastle's Theatre Royal will host the celebration.

Hamlet (November 5 to 10), Twelfth Night (November 13 to 17) and Julius Caesar (November 20 to 24) are the hot tickets for the 25th anniversary Newcastle season, with bookings available from Monday, June 18.

One of Britain's rising stars, Samuel West, plays Hamlet, which is directed by Steven Pimlott.

Newcastle's Playhouse will host three further RSC productions in November.

They are: Shakespeare's King John (November 5 to 10), William Wycherley's restoration comedy Love In A Wood (November 12 to 17), and the new comedy Jubilee by Peter Barnes (November 19 to 24).