BUDDING actors, actresses, directors and stagehands, as well as curious local folk, will be heading for Stratford this Sunday for a rare opportunity to, literally, take a good look behind the scenes at the RSC.

The RST, The Swan Theatre and The Other Place will be opening their doors to the public from 11am to 5pm, when actors, directors, designers and craftspeople will be giving insights into how major productions are staged. People can join in with talks, demonstrations and workshops, all of which will be on offer free for anyone who wants to get involved.

The company is staging the event as part of its work in the community and hoping to repeat the success of the last RSC open day, in 2000, which proved so popular that 10,000 people turned out to take part.

Among events planned this year will be a voice and movement session, demonstrations by make-up specialists, displays of how scenery is moved around and how lighting and sound effects are used to help tell a story.

The RSC Orchestra will be playing music from current and past productions and the RSC Catwalk Collection will show off this season's latest looks.

Actors and directors will be telling of their experiences and new Artistic Director Michael Boyd will be revealing some theatrical secrets.

Tours will be organised around the RSC Workshops in Timothy's Bridge Road so people can see where sets and props are made as well as nosing in the Hire Wardrobe department and Masterclasses will be offered by some of the best experts in the world, including RSC Voice Director Cicely Berry, Advisory Director John Barton, actor Henry Goodman - and Dramaturg Paul Sirett, who will explaining what dramaturgy is!

Children aged five to 16 will be catered for at The Other Place where there will be games, stories, music and hat-making among other delights.

"The Open Day was so wonderfully received a few years ago that we just had to bring it back," said co-ordinator Fiona Lindsay.

"It's important for a large arts organisation like the RSC to share its resources with as many young people as possible. We hope the open day will engage both young and old and will be an opportunity for everyone to find out more about the creative process of theatre and meet the people who make it happen."

All events are free and there are no reservations. Programme leaflets are available beforehand from the RSC Box Office on 0870 6091110 or at the theatres where there will be maps and information points on the day.