LOVE requited and unrequited, humour and wit, drunken shenanigans and laugh out loud scenes - Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night has it all.

Ulverston Outsiders' spring production is a timely nod to the great playwright, and runs from Tuesday-Saturday, April 19-23 (7.30pm) at Ulverston's Coronation Hall.

Celebrating the 400th anniversary of William's passing with a fresh version of one of his most popular works, it's been 22 years since the Outsiders' last Shakespeare offering, As You Like It: "So it is high time we returned to the Bard," says director Pat Timewell, who has put together an enthusiastic and talented cast to bring Shakespeare’s text to life for a modern audience, staging an exciting production set in Olivia's nightclub in the 1930s.

Pat adds that rehearsals are going well and that the cast have been working very hard, and really put a lot into the show: "Although not set in Shakespeare's time, the play translates really well to a more modern setting without loosing any of it's lovely lyricism," explains Pat. "It makes a good choice for an evening's entertainment. It has an easy to follow story line so even if you have never seen a Shakespeare play before you will still be able to follow the action.

"Shakespeare presents an extra challenge for a director and the cast as you are using language that you would not use everyday and speech patterns are different. For that reason we have had a longer rehearsal run than normal and this has given us time to become familiar with the language and rhythm."

The cast includes Emma Bonney as Viola; Claire Boulter plays Olivia; Trevor Hughes takes the role of Malvolio, Paul Jordin is Orsino and Jenny Shipley plays Maria.

Ulverston Outsiders own theatrical journey began in 1935, when Edith Eckersley, who was running a small drama group in Bardsea, named the society The Outsiders because members were more or less located some distance from Ulverston.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she was apparently an enthusiastic amateur producer and keen on expanding the horizons of what was then her private society. She decided to throw membership open to the public, so held a meeting at Ulverston's Coronation Hall on May 6, 1936. The meeting was well attended and many pledged their support. The first chairman was a Mr Birkett.

Fortnightly play readings and various one act plays were performed with the first big production in 1938 - Distinguished Gathering at the Coronation Hall.

The majority of UO productions have taken place the Coro. As far back as the 1940s alternative venues were discussed, but for scores of years the Coro has remained the players main theatrical home.

Pride and Prejudice, Loot, Toad of Toad Hall, Present Laughter, Nude with Violin, Blithe Spirit, and When we are Married are just some of the many productions put on by the Outsiders, and the group has successfully starred in several of the All England One-Act play festivals.

If music be the food of love, play on...

Box office 01229-587140.