THE acclaimed Festival Players return to Leighton Hall on Friday, July 25 (7.30pm) performing one of Shakespeare’s darkest and most powerful works, Macbeth.

The hall’s grounds and gardens will be transformed into a Scottish Castle, a heath and moving forest for the alfresco, bewitching two-hour production of superstition, ambition, and retribution.

The music is written especially by folk star, composer and poetry anthologist Johnny Coppin, front man of the cult 1970s folk-rock group Decameron.

Leighton’s grounds open at 6pm for pre-performance picnics. Theatregoers should take along their own seating. Tickets are available on 01524-734474.