TO mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury will present a summer season of Shakespeare, combining live performances, film, live screenings and activities.

MadCap Theatre productions will be back in Tewkesbury with an open-air production of Much Ado About Nothing, on Sunday July 24, from 2.30pm.

And GB Theatre Company will present an open air production of Romeo and Juliet, on Thursday August 4, from 7pm.

A spokesman said: "Comedy and tragedy come together to form this ever popular play, enhanced by live music."

Shakespeare's death might be no laughing matter, but award winning comedian Tim FitzHigham will commemorate the anniversary with his Shakespeare’s Stand Up show, on Saturday July 30, from 8pm.

This is described as "a one man comedy show featuring wild Morris dancing, near death experiences, arrest and injury".

Oddsocks’ will bring a musical adaptation of Macbeth to the Roses on Tuesday August 30 from, 7pm.

A spokesman said: "The play is brought vividly to life in an orderly and steampunk-style world of value and decency."

Box Tale Soups’ "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" will offer family fun on Wednesday August 31, from 2.30pm.

A spokesman said: "The audience will be transported to a world of mirth and magic where Shakespeare’s language is made accessible to a younger audience through the use of beautiful handmade puppets, physical theatre and original music."

The Roses is offering two workshops for young people. In Witches, Fairies, Soldiers And Ghosts, on Thursday July 28, from 10am to 1pm, a veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company and English Shakespeare Company, Emma Cleasby, "will take all of The Bard’s most colourful characters and well known stories to create a whole new play".

In Translate & Update, on Saturday September 17 September, from 10am to 4pm, youth theatre officer Mike Greenman will explore some of the most famous scenes and speeches scripted by Shakespeare "and bring the dialogue into the twenty first century".

Tickets and further details on 01684 295074 or online at www.rosestheatre.org