NOTORIOUS outlaw and champion of the poor, Robin Hood remains one of the most famous and best loved heroes of British history.

The Robin Hood story was an inspiration for Shakespeare's plays King John and As You Like It, and in a special rehearsed playreading, the Royal Shakespeare Company will explore the man and legend.

Their version will use Anthony Munday's plays The Downfall of Robert, Earle of Huntington and The Death of Robert, Earle of Huntington as the central text.

Jonathan Munby, assistant director for three of this year's RSC summer festival productions, will direct the reading. His work as a director includes Journeys Among The Dead and 21 years @ 6am, which he also wrote for the Edinburgh Festival. The reading will be held at the Swan Theatre, Stratford, on September 7 at 2pm. Tickets cost £5 and are available from the box office on 01789 403403.