A CELEBRATION of Merry England comes to Verulamium Park, St Albans, from next Thursday, June 28, when Rooftop Theatre Company puts on its fifth Shakespeare production at the Inn on the Park.

The Merry Wives of Windsor may be set in an affluent, historic, Berkshire town but it could just as easily be set in a Hertfordshire city.

The play features one of Shakespeare’s greatest characters, Falstaff, who is played by larger-than-life performer Oscar Bland who first performed with Rooftop last year in Much Ado About Nothing and has worked with other St Albans theatre companies.

The wives themselves are witty, mischievous and wise. Mistress Page is played by Sally Gilfillan who has given powerful performances in previous productions. Lisa Castle, who also joined Rooftop last year in Much Ado, plays Mistress Ford.

Director Simon Bolton said: “The action in Merry Wives unfolds at a breakneck pace with a roller-coaster ride of high comedy; as usual there will be plenty of audience interaction and this year, dozens of pairs of pants!”

This year’s production is the first since Rooftop won Best Shakespeare Producers in the 2012 Fringe Report Awards for the freshness and originality of their interpretations.

The play runs from Saturday, July 7, (no performances Sunday, June 30, or Wednesday, July 4) with all performances starting at 7.30pm, Tickets are �13 with concessions �11 and children under 14, �9.

For tickets and further information visit www.rooftoptheatre.co.uk