THE skills and family links of a community will be used on stage in a fast-moving play.

Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor will be performed at the Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, from Wednesday to Saturday, June 11-14 and in a novel approach to costuming, family members within the cast have their outfits colour-coordinated.

The production is rarely performed and tells how the penniless Sir John Falstaff sets out to woo two women at the same time for their money but they are not so easily taken in and play a dastardly trick on him.

Director Margaret Dallow said they formed a new group of 20 actors aged from 10 to 70 plus to produce the play.

She said: "Community involvement is essential to a production of this sort and local tradesmen and artists have willingly stepped forward to work all hours making and painting scenery, including a wonderful back-cloth of the Old Oak in Windsor Great Park painted by artist Alfred Mann."

She added: "Everyone has thrown themselves wholeheartedly into a heavy production schedule. There are hilarious moments of slapstick, for example Falstaff is bundled into a laundry basket and comes up wearing a bra on his head."

Performances start at 7.30pm and tickets are £8 (concessions £7).

For more information and tickets, go to conquest-theatre.co.uk or call 01885 488575.