THE Royal Shakespeare Company is wheeling out a tried and tested production to replace the much-heralded return of Vanessa Redgrave.

Veteran actors Sir Donald Sinden and Alan Howard are returning to the RSC in Stratford next month to appear in The Hollow Crown.

The production, an entertainment based on the history of the kings and queens of England, replaces Hecuba, which was cancelled to allow its star, Ms Redgrave, to recover from an operation prior to appearing in the play in London at the end of March.

The Hollow Crown was devised for the RSC in 1961 and has proved popular with audiences ever since.

The Hollow Crown runs from Thursday, March 3 until Saturday, March 19. Tickets are available from the box office 0870 609 1110.