2016 is the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death and, according to early music duo The Night Watch, there’s one aspect of his plays you’re probably missing - the music.

“Shakespeare’s plays were full of musical references and actual songs where the script plainly says the actor should sing,” says The Night Watch’s lute player, Ian Pittaway.

“But you so rarely hear the original music, even in period productions.”

That is why, in their new show, From Bard To Verse – the original music of Shakespeare’s plays, they have researched and recovered Shakespearean songs and music and will play it on copies of Tudor instruments.

Between just two of them, they perform with recorders, lutes, crumhorn, bray harp, rebec, cittern, pipe and tabor, renaissance guitar, bagpipes, bandora, shawm, mandore and gemshorn.

“In 2014 we toured with a similar idea,” says historical wind player Andy Casserley.

“William Shakespeare: Songs from the Shows marked 450 years since the Bard’s birth. There’s enough musical material in his plays for at least three full programmes, so in From Bard To Verse we’ll barely repeat anything from the previous tour.”

“It’s such great music,” says Ian.

“And it’s easy to see how songs in Shakespeare’s plays added light and shade, drove home the humour and sadness in the plot, and in some cases drove the plot along.”

So do audiences need to be Shakespeare buffs to enjoy the show?

“Not at all,” says Andy.

“We’ve unearthed some nuggets to please Bard buffs but our chief aim is to entertain anyone and everyone. Remember it was Shakespeare who brought the clown to the English stage – his plays are full of humour, so we perform in that spirit.”

Tickets are available in person or at the box office on 01527 65203 priced £10 in advance £11 on the day (inclusive of booking fee £1 per seat up to a maximum £4).

To purchase seats online, visit redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk.