At the time William Shakespeare was penning his plays in London, the great age of sail and exploration opened up trade routes to both east and west.

And with the merchant ships, a new profession was developing among the criminal fraternity as the first buccaneers began to make a lucrative living off the ships bringing valuable cargoes back to Europe from the East and West Indies.

Shakespeare never actually wrote a play about pirates - what a pity! - but Ilkley Players have remedied that with their latest production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Directed by Pat Dyson, this much loved comedy has been translated to a secluded cove on the Italian coast where Pirate Chief Don Pedro and his crew are entertained on board a wrecked galleon by local crime boss, Leonato and his beautiful nieces.

Once ashore, the rum runs free and passions high as the rascally band play

fast and loose with life, love and lucre, and trouble is stirred by Don Pedro's double-crossing brother, the evil Don John.

All who remember Pat Dyson's imaginative and inventive Comedy of Errors, set in 20s Hollywood, a few years ago will know that this is a production not to be missed and is sure to be fun for everyone.

A cast of Ilkley's finest actors has been

gathered to swash their buckles and pentameters for this exciting and innovative production.

Led by Nick Pennington as Benedick and Joanne Button as Beatrice, with support from Walter Swan, Vicky Johnson, Simon Waley, Andrew Leggott, Ian Wilson and Louise Button among others, this will be a production to brighten the darkest January evening.