Mansfield Palace Community Theatre members take up the challenge this month of presenting one of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies, Twelfth Night.

In the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s death, Ben Palmer, playing Orsino in the Palace production, said the popularity of the Bard was timeless.

“The themes and issues which Shakespeare includes can be adapted to virtually any time period,” he said.

“Whether it be comments regarding the social classes, the role of women or the human race as a whole, Shakespeare can constantly be re-invented and re-applied time and time again.”

Sandy Edwards-Walsh, the female actor playing Feste, originally a male role, thinks: “People are still the same and have the same ups and downs in their lives. We all know people just like the Shakespearean characters – who doesn’t know a drunken idiot, a pompous man or a sarcastic wit!”

This production has been set in the 1920s. Christopher Neil, the drector, said he wanted to set a play in that era.

The Community Theatre production is at the Mansfield Palace Theatre from Thursday 30 June to Saturday 2 July. Tickets are priced £8.50 full / £7.50 concs./ Children aged 10+ and students £6 / Family of four £25. Tickets can be purchased from the Box Office on 01623 633133 or online at www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre