A NEW production of the undisputed masterpiece of world theatre, William Shakespeare's Hamlet, comes to Malvern Theatres next week.

The production, by English Touring Theatre, is promised to be clear, fast-paced and visually breathtaking.

Starring as Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, is Anita Dobson, who, although best-known for her time as Angie Watts in Eastenders, also has a notable list of theatrical credits

She received the finest notices of her career for her performance in Frozen at the National.

She has also starred in Three Sisters at the Royal Court, Kvetch at the Garrick, Charley's Aunt at the Aldwych, Chicago at the Adelphi and Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury.

Playing Hamlet is Ed Stoppard, whose playwright father made his reputation with his radical reinterpretation of Hamlet, Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

However, Ed Stoppard has made his own name in a number of productions such as The Merchant of Venice and The Seagull at Chichester and Age, Sex, Location at the Riverside Studios, London, as well as a part in Roman Polanski's Oscar-winning film The Pianist.

Stephen Unwin, ETT's artistic director, is a winner of the Shakespeare Globe's Sam Wanamaker award, and Hamlet stays true to the company's ethos of producing raw, direct and passionate theatre.

Hamlet is on Tuesday to Saturday, October 11 to 15. Tickets (£8-£22) are available from 01684 892277.