A UNIQUE and special play, weaving together Shakespeare themes, scenes and sonnets is to be performed in Tavistock this spring, as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages project.

A Caper Through Shakespeare evolved from a brain-storming session, developed further through open meetings of The Tavonians and has been written by three members who are all published playwrights.

A spokesperson for The Tavonians said: 'As well as a writing team there will be a team of expert Shakespeare directors. It's a truly collaborative, yet cohesive, production. It tells a fictitious story of a troupe of actors which Will Shakespeare meets up with and which provides inspiration for several of his plays.'

Performances in Tavistock Town Hall will be a part of the Tavistock Festival in April, followed by open-air performances at Buckland Abbey in June.

The spokesperson said: 'The cast of around 20 covers all ages from 16 to 70 with an equal number of male and female roles, some large parts and some with just a few lines. Of course Shakespeare himself is one of the roles.

'There'll be opportunities for musicians and singers too, and for anyone interested in being part of the back-stage crew.

'Auditions, which are open to everyone, are being held on two days in mid-February. It's only necessary to attend one of the auditions, and there's no need to prepare anything in advance.'

The dates are Thursday, February 16, at 7.30pm in the Guide Hall in Bedford car park and on Sunday, February 19 at 2.30pm in The Tavy Club in King Street.

The RSC's Open Stages project aims to embrace, develop and celebrate amateur theatre, re-forging the bond with the world of professional theatre. There are more than 260 companies taking part nationally. Members of The Tavonians have been involved in theatre skills workshops with further workshops to come, taken by members of the RSC.

The culmination of Open Stages in the South West will be a showcase at the Hall for Cornwall in June when The Tavonians will perform an extract from A Caper through Shakespeare.

Last Friday The Tavonians Theatre Company presented a Murder Mystery, Death on the Prom, at The Terrace Restaurant in Tavistock.

Tickets were sold out three weeks before the event and the advance enthusiasm was well deserved as it was a great success in every respect, with a magnificent response from the audience both for the entertainment and the dinner. The Terrace and The Tavonians have already started talking about the possibility of more Murder Mystery events in the future.