OPEN air theatre company Illyria return to the Lake District this month to perform a Shakespeare classic and a children's favourite.

Tickets are now on sale for Brantwood’s annual outdoor theatre events, which this year see the touring company perform The Taming of the Shrew on Tuesday July 21 and Disney’s The Sorcerer's Apprentice on Tuesday August 18.

The performances take place in the Coniston stately home's scenic lakeside meadow overlooking the lake and the fells, providing a spectacular back-drop for Illyria’s stage.

Illyria has an unparalleled reputation for the clarity and authenticity of its Shakespearean style. Illyria performs each play in the open-air with only a handful of props and no scenery - as almost all of Shakespeare's plays were originally conceived.

Each play is performed uncut, with five actors, the number Shakespeare’s own company was believed to have used when touring the provinces.

Brantwood general manager Rachel Litten says: "Brantwood’s outdoor theatre has been hugely popular for over 24 years. 

"The success is due to the skill of the actors and the wonderful plays they choose to perform, the spectacular special effects for which Illyria is renowned – and the unique back drop of Brantwood’s beautiful lakeside meadow overlooking Coniston Old Man.

"The shows are a very sociable event with people bringing their picnics for the evening. For many it has become a tradition to come along to the shows each year.”

The first show is one of Shakespeare's best-known and best-loved works. Everyone wants to marry mild-mannered Bianca. No-one wants to marry her acid-tongued older sister Kate. Their father won’t let anyone marry Bianca until a husband can be found for Kate – but no-one knows anyone mad enough to take her on. 

That is until Petruchio comes to town, and a woman who suffers no fools meets a loud-mouthed braggart. Sparks are guaranteed to fly in Shakespeare’s rumbustious battle-of-the-sexes comedy, where nobody is exactly who they appear to be.

The August show is the original boy-wizard story, most famously told in Disney’s Fantasia , where the title role was played by Mickey Mouse.

Bored of chores, the apprentice waves a wand and a broom magically fetches water. But what is the spell to make it stop? In desperation he saws it in half and everything spirals out of control.

This show features the original music by Paul Dukas, eye-popping magical illusions designed by the world famous illusionist Paul Daniels, and more water than has ever been seen before in a play.

The shows are targeted at children, with  The Taming of the Shrew aimed at children aged 10 and upwards, and  The Sorcerer's Apprentice is suitable for children aged over five.

Both shows start at 7pm and tickets are available from Brantwood or from www.illyria.uk.com