Twelfth Night -- Kirkstall Abbey Cloisters

The R J Williamson Company delivers a sterling performance of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night.

When a shipwreck separates twins Viola and Sebastian what follows is a hilarious tale of unrequited love, comic deception and cross-dressing confusion.

This is the kind of performance that makes you realise just how funny Shakespeare's writing can be. Some razor sharp direction by Robert J Williamson and Joyce Branagh makes it belly-laugh hilarious.

Excellent performances all round would make it wrong to single out any one person. From the wonderful Siwan Morris as Viola right down to Richard Morrison's sea captain Antonio, the cast is faultless.

And love him or hate him, no one can deny Wayne Sleep his dues as Feste the fool -- despite his singing being anything but the food of love.

I have yet to find a more fitting setting for Shakespeare than the cloisters at Kirkstall Abbey. Coupled with the genius of R J Williamson, this truly is Shakespeare at its best.

Rumours are circulating that this could be RJW's last, so I suggest you enjoy it while you still can.

l Runs until September 12, along with Much Ado About Nothing. Phone 0113 224 3801.

Gemma Berry

Pride and Prejudice -- Harewood House

What could be a more perfect setting to see Jane Austen's tale of Elizabeth Bennet and the infamous Mr Darcy than the grounds of Harewood House?

With just simple scenery, five actors and a small stage, the Illyria theatre group entertained us against a beautiful backdrop .

However British weather prevailed and we were sat amidst umbrellas as a thunderstorm added to the atmosphere.

Despite this I thoroughly enjoyed myself as we watched the actors deftly play several characters each -- some men playing women and vice versa.

My particular favourites in this inventive and fast-moving but faithful adaptation were the exuberant Mrs Bennet, the refined Mr Darcy and the horses!.

Illyria are touring with various productions and I would recommend you going to see them -- they were well worth getting wet for.

Katrina Knights

Much Ado About Nothing -- Kirkstall Abbey

If ever there was a play to display the deftness of Shakespeare's comic touch, Much Ado About Nothing would be it.

RJ WIlliamson's company picked a perfect choice for a summer's evening and the intermittent rain did little to dampen either the crowd or the actors' enthusiasm in the open air.

Shakespeare always did do a good line in feisty, funny and no-nonsense women and it was Penny Woodman's man-hating Beatrice who really stole the show.

Armed with some of the Bard's best lines, her repartee with Robert J Williamson's seemingly misogynist Benedick had the audience in stitches.

The plot concerns soldiers returning from war and falling in love the women left behind. Claudio falls in love with Hero (played superbly by Carly Hillman) before being tricked into believing she has been unfaithful the night before they are due to marry.

Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice end up falling in love -- despite their protestations -- after being the target of a mischievous plot to fling them both together.

And this being one of Shakespeare's comedies, rather than tragedies, all's well that ends well!

Kirkstall Abbey as a backdrop and setting is magnificent and really helps to immerse you in the comic capers being played out.

All the cast were worth their weight in gold but the audience particularly enjoyed Norman Pace's hapless constable Dogberry and his idiotic sidekicks.

There simply is nothing better to do on a summer's evening than to go along and see this masterpiece.

l Runs until September 12.

Stuart Roberts