WHY was Shakespeare obsessed with Italy?

Find out by coming to a special two day event at The Coach House Theatre in Malvern.

A spokesman said: "This year, the Royal Shakespeare Company is marking the 2000th anniversary of the death of Roman poet Ovid with their Rome season; and Malvern Theatre Players will mark the anniversary with a weekend of 'Shakespeare, Italy and Rome'."

The spokesman added: "Shakespeare scholar and lecturer Amelia Marriette will present this new event at the Coach House. A series of illustrated talks will focus on Shakespeare’s use of classical sources and will look at extracts of Shakespeare’s Italian works on film, and on stage.

"The event will feature a closer look at some of Shakespeare’s best loved 'Italian' plays including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet, and some that are less well known works, such as the narrative poem, Venus and Adonis."

In Shakespeare and Rome on film, there will be a focus on Marlon Brando as Marc Antony."

The event will also look at different actors’ interpretations of the Italian plays on stage, followed by a look at the importance of Ancient Rome in the Western World and, with Shakespeare’s texts, discusses how much the modern world is indebted to the Romans today."

Shakespeare, Italy and Rome is at The Coach House Theatre, Grange Road, Malvern on Saturday April 29 and Sunday April 30 from 10.30am til 3.30 pm.

Tickets and further details on 01684 569011/07768 235574 or email chrisb_mtp@yahoo.co.uk