ONE of Shakespeare's great tragedies, a rarely-performed work by the Bard and no less than four world premieres are on offer to woo theatregoers to Stratford next spring.

The RSC is offering a wide and varied programme for the New Year.

Samuel West, who this year scored a success with his performance as Richard II at The Other Place, will step on to the stage of the main house in the title role as Hamlet.

The second of the big three productions planned for the main stage next summer is Twelfth Night, which will be directed by Lindsay Posner whose previous work for the RSC includes Volpone and The Rivals.

Actor Guy Henry, who appeared in last year's production of Antony and Cleopatra, returns to the Company to play Malvolio.

Julius Caesar completes the line-up for the first half of 2001.

In the Swan, Shakespeare's little-performed first "history" play, King John, kicks off the season with RSC associate director Gregory Doran at the helm and Guy Henry splitting his time to take the role of the King.

It is followed by a rare staging of William Wycherley's debut Restoration comedy, Love in the Wood. It is described as "a scabrous comedy of duplicity, desperation, danger and delight" and was written just after the Great Fire of London.

The final play in the season will be the world premiere of Peter Barnes' new work, Jubilee.

6 Further details from the RSC on 01789 403403.