WEST End singers, a full orchestra and television celebrity Angela Rippon will come together next week for a special performance which will see Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream set to music.

In commemoration of 400 years since the playwright’s death, local musician and composer John Robinson has set the popular story to music, with the tale completely sung in musical theatre style, something which is thought to have not been done before.

John, who lives near Roadford Lake, said: ‘I work in musical theatre and have produced musicals in the West End. This month it will be 400 years since Shakespeare’s death and so I started a project where I’ve set every word of Midsummer Night’s Dream to music.

‘It’s unique. Someone has done it in a classical way, mine’s more musical theatre — every single word will be sung.’

John has written a two-hour concert version of the show and has chosen Tavistock as the place to premier his work.

The show will feature singers from popular London West End musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables and the Dream Orchestra. He has even managed to secure Angela Rippon to narrate for the performance.

‘It is all orchestrated and I have been recording with West End singers. I thought it would be great to put a concert version up on the internet, then I thought “why not do a concert version in Tavistock?”

The concert will take place at The Wharf in Tavistock on April 20 and will be filmed and showcased online, which John hopes will secure financial investment to allow him to bring the piece to the stage somewhere else in the world.

There are only 200 seats available and guests are asked to dress formally.

For more information visit the website at www.thedreammusical.com