THE multi-talented and charismatic actors of Northern Broadsides are heading back to The Dukes, artistically armed and ready to deliver a seasonal treat - The Winter’s Tale.

The Yorkshire theatre company’s updated version of Shakespeare's popular play begins on New Year’s Eve in 1999 as the Millennium bells ring out with hope for the new century. But a lower, ominous note underscores these festivities and the characters are quickly plunged into darkness.

Seized by sudden irrational jealousy, King Leontes falsely accuses his pregnant Queen of infidelity with his closest friend who flees without answering the accusation. Leontes then proclaims his newborn daughter a bastard and condemns the innocent to death. But the child, Perdita, survives.

What follows is a beautiful and beguiling love story staged by the acclaimed theatre company for the first time in their 23-year history.

Among the cast of the play, which runs from November 10-14, will be two faces familiar to Dukes' audiences.

Russell Richardson, who recently appeared as Fagin in the Dukes outdoor version of Oliver Twist this summer, and Adam Barlow, who was Prince Charming in last year’s Christmas production of Cinderella, both feature in the large ensemble piece.

Conrad Nelson directs the production and also plays Leontes in his first stage role since his acclaimed performance as Iago opposite Lenny Henry in Othello in 2009.

There will be a post show talk-back with the cast on November 10.

On the cinema front, The Dukes is taking part in After Dark, a public festival of sleep that runs in the city from November 12-22.

The week of events is designed to engage the community in discussion, participation and creative reflection on sleep and sleeplessness in the modern world.

Featured is Carnival Of Souls (15), screened on November 15, a new unique adaptation of the 1962 cult horror film; Alfred Hitchcock’s Freudian-inspired thriller, Spellbound (PG), is shown on November 16, and The Nightmare 15, part documentary, part horror film, runs at The Dukes on November 17.

Meanwhile, artist Charlie Holt will be exhibiting his latest collages which are influenced by the Pop Art of the Sixties in The Dukes' gallery.

Charlie - a former head of fine art at Liverpool Hope University, who divides his time between Croston in Lancashire and Loule in Portugal - says collages give him the freedom to use photo realism in his work.

His Chance Meetings exhibition aims to create a fly-posted street presenting posters advertising music and theatre while also hidden on the wall will be Charlie’s collages that tell another story.

He enjoys creating bizarre juxtapositions – visual poems - using text and images often gathered from posters and magazines.

The exhibition runs until November 29 during normal Dukes opening hours. Those who are making a special trip to see the exhibition should check with the box office as sometimes the gallery is used for other activities.

Box office 01524-598500 or visit www.dukes-lancaster.org.