The Harpenden High Street Players are performing Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing next week, following the success of their first open air production last year.

Performances will take place outside Cornelia's Café by St Nicholas Church in Harpenden on Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14 at 7.30pm, with a matinée at 2.30pm on Saturday, July 15.

The play is set at Leonata's Villa Messina, where the England women's team learns that the men's team are joining them at their summer training camp.

Romance blossoms between the young midfielders, Claudio and Hero, but not all is sweetness and light, as a longstanding battle of wits breaks out afresh between strikers Beatrice and Benedick.

READ MORE

Meanwhile Don John harbours a grudge, and Leonata has her own deceptive game plan.

Director Mike Lees said he enjoyed working with a cast of 14 to bring the production to fruition. He said: "Shakespeare’s plays are often relocated to different times and places.

"Setting our production in a present-day football training camp has been great fun and has given new insights to this well-loved play."

Tickets cost £10 and are available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/hsplayers, from Manor Pharmacy in Harpenden or by calling 01582 620269.