AMATEUR and semi-professional theatre groups, along with schools and colleges, are being offered the opportunity to put on a play by Shakespeare or his contemporaries at The Dell in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is once again making its open-air performance space in the town available to these organisations on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer.

Now in its tenth year, The Dell provides a great platform for these groups to work with the RSC and to present their work to a large audience.

Last summer’s season of open air theatre at this attractive venue saw more than 9,000 people watch 39 performances by 19 theatre companies, schools, universities and community groups.

The Dell co-ordinator, Laura Keating, said: “The Dell offers amateur and semi-professional theatre companies and schools and colleges a fantastic chance to perform at and work with the RSC.”

She added: “Last year The Dell enjoyed another successful season, and included companies such as the Royal Navy Theatre Association performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a cast of over 30, and a group from New Hampshire who raised funds to make the journey from America to Stratford to perform Hamlet.”

Performance times at The Dell are available on Saturdays and Sundays from June 6 through to August 30 and there are two performance slots a day, although the exact time of each performance may vary.

Anyone interested in performing at The Dell will need to submit an application form which can be downloaded from the RSC’s website: www.rsc.org.uk/thedell The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Monday, March 23, 2015.