SHAKESPEARE'S accent was probably much closer to American than modern day English, one of my American lecturers once told me with a smug grin plastered across her face.

So she will be probably be very pleased to hear the RSC are performing The Winter's Tale will fully authentic American accents.

"Previously, when I've rehearsed Shakespeare plays, I've tried one run-through with an American accent," said director Michael Warchus.

"There is often a point in rehearsals when people are snow-blinded by the words, and rehearsing in a different accent can revitalise things.

"Whenever I have done this exercise the play sounds better. I think this is because Shakespeare was meant to be performed in an accent much closer to American than standard English."

Not only do the cast perform with American accents, Mr Warchus has moved the action to America in the 40s and 50s. The Sicilian Court has been given a film noir feel, and Bohemia is full of live, exuberant bluegrass music.

"I feel sure Bohemia would be full of country music, very warm and communal," said Mr Warchus.

"It was then a question of finding an urban power base to be Sicilia. This part of the play is so black-edgy and paranoid it reminded me of film noir of the 40s.

"It's an experiment definitely worth making, and if anyone should be doing it, the RSC should."

Directing The Winter's Tale gave Mr Warchus the chance to direct his favourite Shakespearean play.

"It combines fairytale with a hard look at real life. There is pain and beauty, comedy and tragedy, violence and joy. These opposing tones all deepen the emotion of the play."

The play also marks the RSC debut of actor/comedian Felix Dexter.

Mr Dexter, who has appeared in the likes of The Real McCoy, The Fast Show and Felix Dexter on TV, will be playing the part of Autolycus.

In order to help Mr Dexter and the rest of the cast pull off the American accents, the RSC drafted in Charmian Hoare as dialect coach.

"I have worked with a lot of American actors and students and I love hearing American Shakespeare," she said.

"It does seem, to me closer to the Elizabethan sound than the disconnected English we have now.

"Americans pronounce every syllable. When you get a word like "world' which is so long in the American pronunciation, it really enhances the whole meaning of the word.

"Luckily, at the RSC we have long rehearsal periods because it takes a long time to get an accent totally right.

"A lot of my work is supporting and encouraging actors about accents. Generally actors love the challenge. They love anything that will help them find a character."

The Winter's Tale is one of three of Shakespeare's "late plays" that will be performed by the RSC at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in rep until November. The other plays, Pericles and The Tempest, will open later in the season.

For information and tickets, call the box office on 0870 6091110.