THERE were no women on the stage in Shakespeare's day, and the Festival Players Theatre Company are maintaining the tradition with a tour that gives local people plenty of chances to be in the audience.

On offer will be the comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, which features one of the bard's most beloved characters, the fat and lascivious knight, Sir John Falstaff.

A spokesman said: "Shakespeare is the nation’s and arguably the world’s greatest playwright and The Festival Players Theatre Company is proud to present The Merry Wives of Windsor, the only one of his comedies to be set in England.

"This theatre company from Gloucestershire, which has been touring professional outdoor Shakespeare productions for over 30 years, is taking the play across the UK and into Europe, until the end of August."

The spokesman added: "Presented in full costume, an all-male company brings the fun of this the most farcical of all of Shakespeare’s plays, bustling with colourful characters and full of intrigues and physical gags, in a crystal-clear and fast-paced two hour production.

"The story centres on Falstaff, the ‘Fat Knight’ who also appears in Henry IV as drinking buddy of young Prince Henry. Indeed, in 1602 it was referred to as ‘a most pleasant and excellent comedy of Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor’. Down on his luck and staying in Windsor, the roguish and foolish Falstaff plans to seduce not one but two married women so he can get his hands on their husbands’ money. However, the wiley wives of Windsor prove more than a match for him in this hilarious comedy."

Festival Players Artistic Director Michael Dyer has brought the play to a manageable length of two hours in the company’s trademark accessible format.

Dyer said: “Our shows are an amalgam of energy, entertainment and colour and we aim to make them clear and transparent, as well as keeping them short for the comfort of our patrons. We set out to take audiences of all ages on a journey and make them feel very much part of the production.”

This will be Dyer’s 13th all-male production in a row for the Players.

He said: "It is of course totally authentic - we are following in the footsteps of Shakespeare’s own Globe Theatre when all roles were taken by men. The Players has built a reputation for strong, all-male shows over the past twelve years.”

There will be several performances in Worcester and also performances at Charlton Kings, Stratford and Himbleton.

Tickets and further details are now available online at

www.thefestivalplayers.co.uk/tour