Rehearsals are also over and Peter Pan will be flying into Herts for the opening of a seven-week theatrical treat in historic surroundings.

The stage is set for The Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans.

Herts Advertiser: The cast of Peter Pan rehearsing for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans.The cast of Peter Pan rehearsing for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Presented by the Maltings Theatre, the outdoor extravaganza at the Roman Theatre of Verulamium features 14 shows over the course of seven weeks at one open-air venue.

The festival opens on Friday, May 28 and runs until July 11, with a varied programme designed to appeal to the widest audience.

This year’s festival is headlined by productions created and performed by the Maltings Theatre’s in-house company OVO, with Peter Pan, which had to close early at the Alban Arena last December, Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors and The Winter's Tale.

Herts Advertiser: Felipe Pacheco as Peter Pan and Flora Squires as Wendy in Peter Pan at the Roman Theatre.Felipe Pacheco as Peter Pan and Flora Squires as Wendy in Peter Pan at the Roman Theatre. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Peter Pan features many of the original cast who performed in the show at the Arena before the theatre was closed in the last lockdown before Christmas.

Felipe Pacheco is the eponymous hero, while Emma Wright plays Mary Darling and Tiger Lily, Flora Squires is Wendy Darling, and Marcus Churchill is George Darling and the swashbuckling Captain Hook.

Herts Advertiser: The Comedy of Errors artwork by Rob RyanThe Comedy of Errors artwork by Rob Ryan (Image: Rob Ryan)

Previews of The Comedy of Errors start on June 4 with Shakespeare's play transported to a beachfront bar in award-winning director Matthew Parker's version.

Bar owners Ant and Adriana serve up karaoke laced with fruity cocktail kicks.

When Ant’s long-lost twin brother washes up on shore with his loveable but idiotic mate Dromio, who also happens to be a long-lost twin, a hilarious and anarchic adventure of errors ensues.

Herts Advertiser: The cast of the OVO production of The Comedy of Errors set for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans.The cast of the OVO production of The Comedy of Errors set for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans. (Image: OVO)

The two sets of twins, plus a host of colourful characters, mysterious merchants, late-night lovers, a drag queen and a nun grab the wrong end of the stick (of seaside rock) in a hilarious, helter-skelter comedy of mistaken identity.

Herts Advertiser: Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in A Winter's Tale, which can be seen at the Roman Theatre in St Albans.Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in A Winter's Tale, which can be seen at the Roman Theatre in St Albans. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

The Winter's Tale is co-directed by the Maltings Theatre's artistic director Adam Nichols, who also performs as King Leontes, and Maltings associate director Janet Podd.

“This is such a wonderful play,” says Janet.

“Like so much Shakespeare, it encompasses the human experience and while there are highly comic scenes there are scenes of tragedy, too.”

Herts Advertiser: Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival's production of A Winter's Tale.Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival's production of A Winter's Tale. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Adam Nichols added: "The role of King Leontes is an exciting and challenging one for any actor; he's complex and driven, variously described as jealous, villainous, destructive, even childish.

"I've been rediscovering my acting chops with the help of my brilliant co-director Janet Podd, and I'm really enjoying the discipline of acting again.

Herts Advertiser: Will Pattle and Emma Wright as shepherds in A Winter's Tale at the Roman Theatre.Will Pattle and Emma Wright as shepherds in A Winter's Tale at the Roman Theatre. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

"The setting of the play's two distinct worlds is going to be so atmospheric at The Roman Theatre – audiences are in for a treat."

OVO will be taking this production of Shakespeare's timeless tragicomedy of obsession and redemption to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall from July 18 to July 28.

Herts Advertiser: Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in the Roman Theatre's production of A Winter's Tale.Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in the Roman Theatre's production of A Winter's Tale. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in A Winter's Tale at the Roman Theatre in St Albans.Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in A Winter's Tale at the Roman Theatre in St Albans. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in A Winter's Tale.Adam Nichols as Leontes and Lucy Crick as Hermione in A Winter's Tale. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: Felipe Pacheco as Peter Pan and Flora Squires as Wendy in Peter Pan at the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival.Felipe Pacheco as Peter Pan and Flora Squires as Wendy in Peter Pan at the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: Felipe Pacheco as Peter Pan and Flora Squires as Wendy in Peter Pan ahead of the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival opening night.Felipe Pacheco as Peter Pan and Flora Squires as Wendy in Peter Pan ahead of the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival opening night. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: The Peter Pan cast ahead of the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans.The Peter Pan cast ahead of the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: The cast of Peter Pan rehearsing at the Roman Theatre in St AlbansThe cast of Peter Pan rehearsing at the Roman Theatre in St Albans (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: The cast of Peter Pan rehearsing at the Roman Theatre in St AlbansThe cast of Peter Pan rehearsing at the Roman Theatre in St Albans (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: The Peter Pan cast for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans.The Peter Pan cast for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: The cast of Peter Pan rehearsing for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans.The cast of Peter Pan rehearsing for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)

Herts Advertiser: The Peter Pan cast for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans.The Peter Pan cast for the Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in St Albans. (Image: Tim Morozzo Photography 2021)