A CAST of more than 30 actors, many of which have overcome disabilities to tread the boards, will be performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The Shakespeare classic is being staged by the Blue Apple Theatre Company, which is based at the Tower Arts Centre off Romsey Road in Winchester.

It specialises in bringing together performers of all abilities and the four-night run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of its most ambitious projects to date.

Will Jessop had adapted the script with Su Houser working on the design and Peter Clerke in the director’s chair.

Mr Clerke said: “‘Blue Apple’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream sees the company tackle Shakespeare for the first time.

“With the performance starting outside in the grounds, the audience will be taken on a unique journey involving both woodland and indoor scenes, before culminating in the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta.”

Another of the main characters, Bottom, will be played by upcoming young actor Tommy Jessop, who has Down’s Syndrome and has appeared in radio and television plays.

The show runs at the Tower Arts Centre from Monday, June 21 to Thursday, June 24, with shows at 7.45pm each evening and an afternoon matinee on the final day.

Tickets cost £7, or £6.50 for concessions, and are available by calling the venue on 01962 867986.

Selected scenes from the show will also be performed in Winchester’s water meadows from 6.30pm onwards on Wednesday, June 30.

It is part of a fund-raising event for Winchester and District Mencap, which helped the Blue Apple Theatre to get started five years ago.

Tickets cost £15 and include a light supper, and tickets are available by calling 01962 861448.