Staffordshire actors join Shakespeare cast

Lyle Mitchell, Ryan Edwards and several Stafford Gatehouse Youth actors have been selected to perform in the show that has been performed in the grounds of Stafford Castle since 1991.

Stafford Festival Shakespeare has a tradition to cast performers from the local area in their plays each year.

Lyle, of Cheslyn Hay, trained at Birmingham Theatre School and will be playing the roles of Young Siward and Fleance.

He has previously performed in a number of the bard's plays including Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, and Twelfth Night for established companies like Civil Brawl Theatre Company and Old Join Stock Theatre Company.

He said: “I am delighted to be a part of the Stafford Festival Shakespeare production of Macbeth. I have seen Shakespeare at the Castle a couple of times now and have been impressed with the sheer size, quality and beauty of the shows. To be a part of that is amazing.”

Ryan, of Runcorn in Merseyside, is a drama graduated from Staffordshire university who will play the role of Young Macduff.

He said: "I am absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this production. Macbeth is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays and for this to be my first professional role coming out of university is a real privilege.”

Macbeth's family is made up of several young children in the play who will be performed by four members of Stafford Gatehouse Youth Theatre.

This includes Isabella Paddock, aged 9, a pupil at St Thomas More primary school in Great Wyrley, Hope Bennett aged 10 of St Anne’s primary school in Stafford, Alexa Munday aged 9, who attends St Patrick’s in Stafford and Katy Boughey aged 8 of St Giles in Houghton, Staffordshire.

Stafford Festival Shakespeare spokesman, Tom Waldron, said: "It is a real privilege to be able to call upon such talented performers from the local area to perform in this year’s production. I myself was involved in a minor part in the Comedy of Errors at the Castle back in 2004 and I loved every minute of it.

“We are delighted to welcome aboard Lyle and Ryan for this year’s production, and it is with great pleasure that we welcome back Hope, Alexa and Katy who played the role of ‘Young Miranda’ during alternate performances of last year’s production of The Tempest. I’m sure all three, together with debutant Isabella, will have a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience.”

Macbeth will open on June 28 and run until July 14 2018 at Stafford Castle, with tickets available from £14. Full ticket information can be obtained from the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com