SHAKESPEARE'S tragic yet comedic tale of corruption and temptation, Measure for Measure, is the latest production from the Colwall Players.

The group has been hard at work rehearsing a contemporary interpretation of the play for a performance at the village hall.

The play is set in Vienna, where lax ruling has allowed vice and depravity to take hold of the city. The Duke decides to leave town and transfers power to his assistant Angelo, who immediately condemns Claudio to death for getting his girlfriend Juliet pregnant.

Claudio's friend, the irreverent Lucio, asks Claudio's sister Isabella, a nun, to go and plead to Angelo for Claudio's life. Meanwhile, it emerges that the Duke has returned in disguise to observe the goings on.

Director Lee Farley said the play had uncanny parallels with the current political climate and was his favourite of Shakespeare's works.

"Certain plays come into relevance, this is a play about political uncertainty and corruption and lack of confidence in Government," he said. "It's also a good yarn with good characters."

The cast of 13 has been rehearsing since February, and the performances start on Thursday, May 27. There will be nightly performance at 7.30pm until Saturday, May 27.

"It's not a very well known one, it's not Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet," said Lee. "Hopefully, people coming to see it will come at it with a fairly open mind and will can concentrate on the story and characters and the themes."

Tickets for Measure for Measure are £6, available from John Goodwin estate agents on 01684 540366.