AN AMATEUR Theatre group fears its annual production of Shakespeare may have to be cancelled due to a lack of actors wanting to take up roles in the play.

Actors Community Theatre was set up in Bradford in 2003 and since then has staged a different Shakespeare play each year.

This year will be their thirteenth such production, which for the past few years have been staged in the grounds of Bradford Cathedral.

They currently have around 12 members, but there are still four roles to be cast, without which the show cannot go on.

Berni Chapman, production co-ordinator said: “Thirteen must be an unlucky number.

“Shakespeare’s plays have a big cast and we always struggle a bit to find actors but this year has been especially difficult. So much so that the production is in danger of being cancelled.”

The play, Taming of the Shrew, is to be performed in the grounds of Bradford Cathedral on July 20 to 22.

The roles that still need to be filled are that of two young men, a young woman, and non-gender specific part. They are Bianca, Lucentio, Hortensio, and Tranio.

Mr Chapman added: “There must be some young actors out there who would jump at the chance to take part in a Shakespeare play.”

He added that the group’s annual Shakespeare productions were a much-needed source of income for ACT and that around 300 to 400 people attended the run of four performances each year.

“It’s a great venue for us, as if it is raining, we can just move the performance inside so the show doesn’t need to be cancelled,” he said.

“In fact there are only two years where we’ve ever held all performances outside, since we moved to the Cathedral in 2008.”

If the call for extra actors is successful and the production goes ahead, tickets are expected to go on sale nearer the time.

They cost £10 of £7 for concessions and are usually available through the cathedral office, or online at bradford-cathedral.ticketlight.co.uk

Past Shakespearean productions from ACT include Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream and last year’s Much Ado About Nothing.

The company is also casting for a production of Marlowe’s Dr Faustus in October this year.

“We are casting this early to avoid the problems we have had with the Shakespeare,” added Mr Chapman.

Auditions are to be held on May 24 at 7.30 pm at Bradford Playhouse or May 25 at 7.30 pm at Bradford Sea Cadets’ base , off Leeds Road.

For information call Mr Chapman on 01422 247301.