THREE of Shakespeare’s most popular titles have been lined up as the core of next summer’s offerings at Stratford-upon-Avon from the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Sure to be hugely popular as plays that will be marked off in many a diary will be Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Also expected to ensure the RSC’s box office is busy will be Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi, a revival of a 17th century play by little-known Mary Pix, The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich, and Miss Littlewood, a new musical by Sam Kenyon based on the life of theatre revolutionary, Joan Littlewood.

And as if that wasn’t enough to whet the theatre-goers’ appetites associate director Gregory Doran’s 2016 production of King Lear will join the Royal Shakespeare Theatre repertoire for a limited season after an international tour.

And just to make next year a little more special Doran has also helped the company launch its fundraising campaign - Stitch In Time - for the restoration and redevelopment of the company’s historic Costume Workshop. The target figure is £3m.

He said: “Up to three million young people will study Shakespeare at school next year. 

"We want them all to have a great first experience of his work, which is why we are continuing our commitment to ‘Shakespeare for the Nation’ by programming powerful and contemporary productions to excite a new generation of theatre-goers, launching our first ever young company and opening up our work behind the scenes."

The RSC has also announced Next Generation ACT, their new young company with 20 gifted young people who might ordinarily find it hard to break into a career in theatre.

Doran said: “They have the opportunity to work with us from the point they join until they are 18 years old as a member of the company.”

And he said they would be touring right across the UK next year with three productions – Hamlet, Matilda The Musical and their new First Encounters with Shakespeare production of Julius Caesar, which will go directly into the heart of communities.

He added that they were also launching a refreshed RSC Key for 16-25 year olds, reminding them they can see any performance for £5; live-streaming exclusive new events; and introducing a series of ‘behind the scenes’ online open days, giving everyone the opportunity to share in the creative energy and vast skills base in all areas of our work.

“Our summer season on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage includes three much loved Shakespeare titles.”

He revealed that Polly Findlay will direct Christopher Eccleston in his RSC debut as Macbeth, with Niamh Cusack returning to the company to play Lady Macbeth in what will be a thrillingly dark, modern production.

Erica Whyman builds on the incredible achievements of her 2016 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation which united 84 amateur performers, 580 children and a professional cast, with her production of Romeo and Juliet.

This violent and devastating tragedy will look in the eye a generation of young people let down by their parents.

Young people from the RSC’s Associate Schools will play the Chorus in Stratford, alongside the professional cast.  The production will then tour in 2019, with more young people joining across the country.   

Following a short revival of King Lear, with Antony Sher in the title role the season concludes with a change of tone when Fiona Laird will direct the heart-warming comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, with David Troughton as Falstaff.

This will have a contemporary setting - with more than a hint of reality TV.

In the neighbouring Swan Theatre three excitingly diverse plays are scheduled, with a strong focus on leading roles for women.

The programme opens with John Webster’s 1612 The Duchess of Malfi, followed by The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich (or The Beau Defeated) written by Mary Pix, Aphra Behn’s 17th century contemporary, and finishes with a brand new musical, about that inspirational revolutionary theatre maker, Joan Littlewood.

Sam Kenyon has written the book, music and lyrics for Miss Littlewood.