THE region's newest theatre company is giving a fresh take on some of Shakespeare's most popular plays.

Founded by Lauren Davey, Kendal-based Chaos Collective aims to create exciting and contemporary reimagined Shakespeare productions for performances in scenic locations, mainly outdoors.

With one successful show already under its theatrical belt, Chaos returns to Kendal College on Saturday (July 1, 6.30pm) performing The Tempest on the newly built green outside The Box and Wildman Street Studios.

Chaos go on to perform The Tempest at Lancaster Castle on Saturday, July 8, and as part of Morecambe's Bard By The Beach festival plays Morecambe Library on Sunday, July 23; Lauren et al also perform A Midsummer Night's Dream at Morecambe Winter Gardens, on Saturday, July 22.

Lauren is a performing arts lecturer at Kendal College, part of Hilary Pezet's acclaimed team, which has nurtured some terrifically talented young actors over the years.

Originally from Norwich, Lauren moved to Kendal after graduating with BA Hons in Drama, and PGCE in post compulsory education and training at Edge Hill University. She started working for Kendal College in 2014 and also teaches acting on the UAL Performing Arts programme.

Director Lauren has put together an impressive company of local actors with huge potential: Lewis Hill, Siobhan Crinson, Jolyon Stephenson, Jamie-Leigh Currie, Haydn Whitehead, Ryan Butterworth, Abbi Lawson, Dave Storer and Yarrow Spillane, Harry Dixon, Kieron Lowther, Meg Cruse, David Lowie, Kyra Scott, Rachael Stott, Ella Vincenti and Glen Hanmer.

"As both an actor and director, I've been wanting to set up my own theatre company in Kendal for a while," explains Lauren. "The idea for Chaos came from a desire to produce some highly energetic and bonkers outdoor theatre, along with wanting to bring Shakespeare to new audiences, and reimagine his works in a unique way that can inspire and excite people, as well as showcase some of the talent we have in Kendal."

Filled with a spirit of magic and the supernatural, The Tempest is Shakespeare’s great masterpiece of forgiveness, generosity and enlightenment. It tells of Prospero, Duke of Milan, who usurped and exiled by his own brother, holds sway over an enchanted island and in his bid for revenge conjures up a storm to shipwreck his brother and allies on the island.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of the Bard's best loved comedies, a story of order and disorder, reality and appearance and love and marriage, featuring some of the playwright's most magical characters, such as Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius and the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest are our debut productions, and it will be a really good test for us to see what audiences want," continues Lauren. "After these productions we will be casting for our next show, which will be a touring Shakespeare production which we hope to get out on the road around Easter. The plan is to do four cities in four days, and maybe pay The Bard's hometown Stratford Upon Avon a visit along the way."

For further information visit www.chaoscollectivetheatre.co.uk.