Span Arts is proud to bring the Festival Players Theatre Company to the beautiful grounds of Lampeter House, Lampeter Velfrey, on Thursday, August 18, for a fun-packed, energetic and brilliantly inventive production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.

One of the most famous battle of the sexes, Shakespeare's famous bard comedy is saturated in farcical impediments, impersonation and impassioned love.

Performed by one of the finest and longstanding touring Shakespeare groups in the UK, The Taming of the Shrew promises to be a spectacle of sublime summer entertainment.

In their annual open air performance at Lampeter House, The Festival Players Theatre Company will bring the colourful Italian world of sunny Padua to Lampeter Velfrey. With wooing and wedding, music and masquerading, The Taming of the Shrew tells the story of the feisty and sharp-tongued Katharina, and gentleman of Verona, Petruchio in his quest to 'tame' her into being his bride.

In a modern comic twist of an old classic, the role of the 'shrew', which has been played by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1965 Franco Zefferelli film, and inspired the famous musical 'Kiss me Kate', will this time be played by a man.

Described by director Michael Dyer as 'an amazing comic plot and a wealth of colourful characters', the Festival Players' all-male cast promise to create thrills and giggles as they dress up for a variety of roles.

One of the finest and most enduring touring Shakespeare groups in the UK, The Festival Players will perform some 54 mostly alfresco shows from May through to August, in a varied number of locations from Scottish castles to English village greens, famous Welsh gardens to London squares, Peckham cafes to Roman amphitheatres.

In Pembrokeshire, the beautiful Lampeter House will provide the perfect setting. The grounds will be open to enjoy from 6 pm. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic to enjoy amidst the beautiful gardens. Guests are also invited to bring along cushions for comfort in the amphitheatre setting. In the event of bad weather, the performance will be held indoors. Refreshments will be available, including soup, cake and fine wine.

Tickets are £12/£10, available in advance from Span Arts on 869323, or online at http://www.span-arts.org.uk">www.span-arts.org.uk