Final year drama students at Staffordshire University have been invited to perform Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale at a national theatre.
It was originally held on campus over two days in Studio One on College Road, where students and the public alike were able to see the free performance.
But the full-scale production is now heading to Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Air Space, the Dell on Sunday 8 June.
The production is directed by course leader and industry professional Robert Marsden with students taking on director, cast and creative company roles.
Robert said: "Students are working hard on their final project at the University prior to graduation. The Winter's Tale offers many acting, directing and design opportunities for the students, who are currently in an intensive five weeks of rehearsals."
He added: "Using a professional theatre approach allows students to have a ‘real-world' experience here at the University before entering the creative industries or further training and, of course, we are delighted to have been picked to take our work to the Royal Shakespeare Company this June."
In a first for the University, the part of the child, Mamillius, will be played by 14-year-old Matthew Clarkson who will be treading the boards alongside third year students.
The Winter's Tale concentrates on King Leontes and how he grows mad with the mental torment of believing his wife Hermione is having an affair with his childhood friend Polixenes. This production by Staffordshire University Drama and Theatre Arts department is set on New Year's Eve and shows the play through the eyes of Mamillius, Leontes and Hermione's first-born child who is forced away from his mother and falls ill.
Amber Brant, 20, who is the Stage Manager of the production said: "I'm really excited. This is the first time we've done a big show outside of the campus so we can really showcase what we've learnt.
"The actors are really up for it, and there's an added bonus of us being able to do a full dress rehearsal at the University's Fringe Festival."
If you would like to see the event before it goes to Stratford-upon-Avon, the Fringe Festival will be running from the 1-21 June, with the performance on 7 June at 2:30pm.
More information can be found here: http://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/fringe/2014/05/09/the-winters-tale-by-william-shakespeare/