Tickets set for Stafford Castle's Romeo and Juliet

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday for next year's open air Shakespeare production at Stafford Castle.

Romeo and Juliet has been chosen as the 22nd Stafford Festival production. It is being performed from June 28 to July 14.

It follows the success of this summer's production of The Comedy of Errors when ticket sales were six per cent up on 2010 with a total audience of 8,600 – 500 more than last year.

The play starred former Coronation Street actor Rupert Hill and Polly Maberly, who has been in Foyle's War and The Bill.

The actors for Romeo and Juliet will not be announced until next year but the production, put on by the team from Stafford Gatehouse, will once again give an opportunity for local up-and-coming actors to appear with professionals.

Tickets for Romeo and Juliet will be available from the box office in Eastgate Street and by calling 01785 254653.

Information on the production will feature on the website www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.co.uk as it is finalised.

Tickets are already on sale for this year's pantomime at the Gatehouse. The rock 'n' roll version of Dick Whittington runs from December 8 to January 7.

The Gatehouse's new season gets under way tomorrow with a visit by Stafford favourite Ken Dodd. The comic's latest show at the theatre sold out quickly once tickets went on sale in June.