WINDSOR Castle was the chosen venue for Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding, so the actors from Shakespeare Live decided that The Merry Wives of Windsor would be the perfect comedy for this summer.

Shakespeare Live was set up to promote the dramatic arts, educate young people and perform plays from the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. They have been recreating the magic of Shakespeare in their open air productions for 30 years, since 1989. Each year the experienced actors raise cash for their chosen charities. At their final rehearsal for this year’s production of ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’, Directors Pat Cannings and Graham Paton were delighted to presented £400 from Shakespeare Live to one of the volunteer riders for Free Wheelers, a local charity who deliver blood products by motor bike around the area.

The Merry Wives of Windsor is set in the shadow of the castle and is a right royal romp about the lascivious Sir John Falstaff, who Shakespeare introduced in Henry 1V. The errant knight sets out to seduce not one but two of the town’s married women. Some believe it was Queen Elizabeth 1 who inspired the play as she liked the ridiculous character of Falstaff so much.

The comedy takes place in the grounds of Cleeve House, Seend from Monday, July 2 to Saturday, July 7 from 8pm with picnics on the lawn are welcome and there is weatherproof tiered seating, bar and toilets. Tickets: £15 and available at 07780 938107 or visit www.shakespearelive.com - Flicky Harrison