AS PART of the celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, two co-productions are coming to the Stephen Joseph Theatre - his most famous play, Hamlet, alongside the lesser known All's Well That Ends Well.

Probably the most famous play in the world, Hamlet brings together politics, madness, sex and murder in a drama that is both a thriller and a profound meditation on the human condition.

In All’s Well That Ends Well, a young woman, using skills bequeathed to her by her father, saves the French king’s life and is rewarded with the right to choose her own husband. But what if the chosen one won’t play the game? How can she get him into bed? How can she make him love her?

The two plays will be performed by a single cast of 15 actors, including Alan Mahon, an exciting young Irish actor who trained at the Lir Academy and was recently seen as Edgar in King Lear in Dublin.

Other company members are: Christopher Bianchi, David Collins, Alan Coveney, Paul Currier, Craig Fuller, Nicky Goldie, Julia Hills, Joel Macey, Callum McIntyre, Isabella Marshall, Byron Mondahl, John Sandeman, Laurence Varda and Eleanor Yates.

Andrew Hilton, artistic director at Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory and Tobacco Factory Theatres, who directs both productions, said: “As an actor I have played in Hamlet many times, but this will be my first production, fulfilling a lifelong ambition.

"All's Well That Ends Well will be a very different challenge but will make an excellent partner; it’s a play brimming with the kind of ambiguity of tone that I relish, as well as offering terrific parts for women (to whom the play really belongs), and some fine comedy.”

Set and costume design is by Max Johns, Matthew Graham is the lighting designer and Elizabeth Purnell is the composer and sound designer. Fight direction is by John Sandeman.

Performances of Hamlet are at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 17, Wednesday, May 18 and Saturday May 21, plus 1.30pm on Thursday, May 19, and 2.30pm on Saturday, May 21. All’s Well That Ends Well can be seen at 7pm on Thursday, May 19 and 7.30pm on Friday, May 20.

To book, phone the box office on 01723 370541 or online at sjt.uk.com