THE tragic, amusing and often unbelievable life of fiction's most famous Jew is coming to Pershore next month.

Shylock: Is he a villain or a victim? is one of the questions asked during Gareth Armstrong's award-winning play, which will be staged at Number 8 Community Arts Centre.

The production, on Thursday, April 6, will confront and confound the stereotypes through the eyes of Shylock's only friend - and the only other Jewish man in the whole of Shakespeare - Tubal.

Shylock celebrates the richness of Shakespeare's language with a cast of characters from Portia to Pontius Pilate and from Antonio, the merchant, to the most infamous

anti-semite of them all,

Adolf Hitler.

The exploration of Shylock and his people is billed as a moving and hilarious piece of theatre.

There will be a post-show discussion with Gareth Armstrong - who plays Tubal as well as having written the show - for anyone interested in exploring the theme of the play further.

Tickets are £10, concessions £9.50 and are available from the box office on 01386 5555488.