AN all-male cast of actors is performing one of Shakespeare's favourite comedies in the middle of a Cotswold village at the weekend.

The Gloucestershire-based Festival Players, a professional touring theatre company, is staging A Midsummer Night's Dream on Evenlode Village Green, near Moreton, this Saturday.

The Players, who 'set out to deliver the best in open air theatre', are following Shakesperean traditions with the all-male cast.

Director Michael Dyer said: "This is the way Shakespearean plays were traditionally performed so, although it may seem unusual today to have no female players, it is, in fact, totally authentic."

The production also has the bonus of original music created by the company's resident musical director and well-known Cotswold songwriter Johnny Coppin.

Saturday's performance is raising money for the Save The Children Fund. It starts at 7.30pm and people are invited to take along a picnic from 6pm.

For a ticket, £10, call 01608 652533 or 01608 650825 or log on to www.thefestivalplayers.co.uk.