THE Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) season of comedies started on Friday, July 15, with a preview of A Comedy of Errors.

Shakespeare's earliest comedy, the play tells the story of brothers, sisters, masters and servants who find themselves confused, baffled and bewildered by the events of a single day.

The comedy is directed by Nancy Meckler, artistic director of the acclaimed theatre company, Shared Experience. She previously directed House of Desires, part of the Spanish Golden Age season for the RSC.

The play concerns twins Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse, played by Christopher Colquhoun and Joe Dixon respectively, and their servants, another pair of twins, Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse, played by Forbes Masson and Jonathan Slinger.

In the best of Shakespearean traditions, a shipwreck takes place in a violent storm and only one Antipholus and one Dromio are saved. Many years later, the two arrive in Ephesus in search of their long-lost twin brothers where unknown to all; the lost twins have been living.

The play runs in repertoire until October 29. Details of performance dates, together with ticket prices call the box office on 0870 609 1110, or go online at www.rsc.org.uk.