YORKSHIRE'S celebrated theatre company Northern Broadsides will bring a production of The Merchant of Venice like no other to the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham.

Barrie Rutter, artistic director and founder of the company who also plays Shylock in the production, chooses to work with northern actors who perform in their natural voices, breaking the southern stranglehold on received pronunciation which helps the audience to hear the words afresh.

Together with Mr Rutter's simple, no-frills approach and clarity of direction, this results in imaginative, unpretentious and accessible Shakespeare which has won the company a loyal following and numerous awards.

The cast of 15 charismatic northern actors includes Claire Calbraith, who played Dr Summerbee in Heartbeat, as Portia, Richard Standing, who has appeared in Coronation Street and The Doctors, as Bassanio, and Jonathan le Billon, seen as Brian 'the Goth' in Hollyoaks, as Solanio.

The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare's most enduring plays and a perfect vehicle for the robust performance style and versatility of this company. It is also a play for our time as Shakespeare evokes a world dominated by money and populated by questionable characters who are "honest in their voices" and "hypocrites in their virtues".

The play eloquently challenges racial stereotypes in a way that is timeless and topical, as Christian and Jew are locked in bitter racial hatred which escalates to tragic proportions. As well as dark and sinister themes, there is love, humour and music in large quantities. Northern Broadsides are experts at celebrating the broad humour present in all Shakespeare's plays, with some outstanding performances and impeccable comic timing.

They also perform live music on stage and sing acapella. The result is a hugely entertaining and imaginative production.

The show runs from Tuesday to Saturday and tickets priced £6 to £17 are available from the box office on 01242 572573.