As the sun goes down over the beautiful Commandery Gardens, families sit on blankets and couples settle down with glasses of wine.

The scene is set for Shakespeare.

Four days into its two-week run, Worcester Live's first ever Shakespeare At The Commandery is going well. Admittedly, weather has been a bit up and down over the past few days, but A Midsummer Night's Dream is, undoubtedly, the ideal open air performance.

The magical, ethereal events can be woven into nature and the cast can take advantage of the wild outdoor elements.

In Worcester, a passionate rabble of professional and amateur actors are doing just that.

Richard Curnow, who plays a charismatic Puck, summed up outdoor theatre when he said: "There is this unique atmosphere; people come with their picnics and wine, ready to be entertained."

But, like Lysander says, the course of true love never did run smooth, and to make the show a success, a lot of hard work has been put in on, and off, stage.

"It's been very hard work," said director Chris Jaeger, who is also playing Philostrate. "It's not just all the acting and staging, there is the temporary box office building, getting the tents up and then there is a whole health and safety aspect.

"All the stuff you don't want to do, but, obviously, must get right."

Shakespeare At The Commandery is planned as a yearly event and those who attend this year are being told that they are making history.

The production brings together familiar faces from the Worcester amateur dramatics scene with professional actors Jonathon Derby, Richard Curnow and Simon Bell.

Simon Atkins, the head of drama at King's School, Worcester, dons the head of an ass to portray Bottom and Swan Theatre Amateur Company stalwart Frank Welbourne plays Snug - the Joiner. Full of fun, exciting and at times saucy, the story concerns the night-time adventures of four young Athenian lovers, a group of amateur actors and some mischievous fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular and is widely performed across the world.

A Midsummer Night's Dream runs at the Commandery until Saturday, June 23. Gardens open for picnics and pre-show entertainment an hour and a half before each performance.

Tickets, priced £13.50, are available from Worcester Live box office on 01905 611427 and via www.worcesterlive.co.uk