ONE of Shakespeare's most fierce and bloodthirsty plays looks sure to set tongues wagging after it appears in Stratford this summer.

Titus Andronicus may catch visitors off guard by its ferocious intensity when it is performed as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works Festival.

The play uses stunning imagery and fuses Eastern and Western traditions to produce a startling play in which not a drop of blood touches the stage floor.

Shakespeare's play is being by led by Japanese director Yukio Ninigawa in its UK premiere and is performed in Japanese with English surtitles. Performances run from June 16 to 24 and tickets can be bought on 0870 609 1110.