ONE of Shakespeare’s most famous plays will be performed with a surprising new twist in York, by an all-female cast.

The Yorkshire-based Flanagan Collective will perform Romeo and Juliet, one of the Bard’s most well known works, in a contemporary production. It will form part of the first York International Shakespeare Festival and will run from 7-23 May.

Director Alexander Wright emphasised the opportunity for the project’s community focus, ‘we want to make this a show for people– for communities and for social and sacred spaces.’ He also highlighted the play’s themes of young romance and recklessness but also ‘the sheer relevance of falling in love’.

Producer Brian Hook said, ‘Meeting the cast, all together, yesterday was a sheer joy. There’s a lot of imagination, energy and adventure on the way’.

 The all-female company was set up to help to increase female presence in the performing arts, as according to Hook the theatre industry ‘doesn’t give a fair representation to women on stage’ Romeo and Juliet will be performed within the fifteenth century surroundings of St Olave’s Church in Marygate, one of the oldest churches in York.

 It will follow in the Flanagan Collective’s tradition of staging work in unusual venues. Their interpretation of A Christmas Carol devised in 2011 has successfully filled public houses around the UK including the Gillygate Pub in York, they also brought their production of Sherlock Holmes: A Working Hypothesis to the Council Chamber at the Guildhall, York.

The festival has been set up by a partnership between York Theatre Royal, the artistic collective Parrabbola and the University of York. It will take place between 8-17 May at venues across York and will also include talks, workshops and other plays by Shakespeare such as Richard III, The Taming of the Shrew and King Lear.

Organisers are hoping to develop the festival’s unique character with a fusion of traditional retellings and original responses from both local and international production companies.

Romeo and Juliet will run from Thursday 7 to Saturday 23 May and tickets are on sale now, priced £14 to £18 (£1 transaction fee per booking), on the York Theatre Royal website or from their Box Office on 01904 623568.