PREPARATIONS are beginning for a theatre company's 25th summer production – a version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in a seaside town against a backdrop of mods and rockers in the early 1960s.

Volunteers are being sought by the Barnard Castle-based Castle Players for on and off-stage roles.

This year's show, which will be staged at The Bowes Museum from July 8-12, is being directed by Jill Cole, a long-standing member of the Castle Players and leader of the group's youth section, The Turrets, from 1996 to 2013.

“The seaside theme will give us an enormous amount of scope to create a very colourful and atmsopheric experience for our audience,” she said.

Anyone interested in taking part can find out more at the first meeting for the production to be held on Monday, February 10, at 7.30pm, in The Witham, Barnard Castle.

Newcomers will be welcomed and as well as looking for actors anyone wanting to help out behind the scenes with props, costumes, set building and design, sound and lighting, box office and front of house should also go along to the meeting.

For further information go to castleplayers.co.uk, call Jill Cole on 07802-603008 or just turn up at the meeting.