Visit Much Wenlock's Church Green, with its ancient tombstones and beautiful trees, and you can't help but be captivated by its tranquil atmosphere - any week but this week.

Every night from Monday to Saturday, Shropshire County Drama Group will be treating audiences to a nerve-shredding emotional experience.

Joanna Purslow as Cordelia

Reckoned by many to be Shakespeare's greatest play, King Lear is a story of justice, authority and reconciliation.

With one of the most tragic endings in literature, the play is filled with disaster, insanity and betrayal.

You may think that tales of disfunctional families are the province of modern literature, but the story of King Lear was told in England centuries before Shakespeare's time.

It is, of course, Shakespeare's dramatisation of the tale that is remembered as the definitive version.

Click here to see our panoramic image of Much Wenlock church yard, where the play will be performed

Shropshire County Drama Group's interpretation of the play is, as always, original and guaranteed to sieze the attention of the audience from start to finish.

Director Gill Kelly has chosen a Victorian setting, giving the opportunity to use some stunning costumes.

Angela Beechey and Paul Higgins play Regan and Cornwall

Ken Allden stars as Lear, with a masterful portrayal of a monarch descending into madness and a father in despair.

Joanna Purslow's Cordelia is no weak and feeble woman - more like a warrior princess, but with a wonderful subtlety in the touching reconciliation with her father.

Cordelia's kindness and honesty is balanced by the sheer spite of her sisters Regan and Goneril, chillingly portrayed by Angela Beechey and Wendy Brown.

You can expect many other memorable performances - watch out for Paul Higgins' cold and menacing Duke of Cornwall, Roger Wheale's Duke of Gloucester, growing from weak and ineffectual to brave and honourable and Peter Beechey who shows The Fool to be much more than a frivolous lightweight.

Peter Beechey as The Fool

David Shuker and Stephen Illidge, playing half-brothers Edmund and Edgar, add further depth and intrigue.

King Lear will be performed at the Much Wenlock Festival from Monday 14 June until Saturday 19 June 2004.

Tickets, which start at £8.00 with discounts for concessions, students, families and group bookings, are available from The Music Hall, Shrewsbury, 01743 281281 or Tourist Information Office, Bridgnorth 01746 763257.