THERE’S an opportunity available for a local amateur theatre group, or even a local school or college, to grab the limelight by appearing in Stratford-upon-Avon during this special 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death.

The Royal Shakespeare Company is offering the chance to these groups, along with semi-professional theatre groups, the opportunity to put on a play by Shakespeare or his contemporaries at The Dell, the RSC’s open air performance space in Stratford, on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer.

The Dell provides a space for groups to perform an established piece of work, or to create a new one inspired by Shakespeare or his contemporaries, and it has already seen 250 groups perform on its stage since it launched 10 years ago.    

RSC Events and Exhibitions Officer, Nicola Salmon, said: “The Dell is a fantastic platform for amateur theatre companies, community groups, schools, universities and professional theatre companies to perform to an audience of all ages in the heart of Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.  

“As a national theatre based in the heart of the Midlands, it is important that we invite theatre-makers to share their work where possible and also offer visitors a series of exciting weekends of free outdoor theatre.”

Two performance slots are available on Saturdays and Sundays at The Dell from July 2 to August 28.

 Applications can be downloaded from the RSC’s website - www.rsc.org.uk/thedell - and the closing date for applications is Monday, March 7, 2016.