A MUSICAL celebration of Shakespeare is set to delight theatre fans in Dorchester.

Music will be the food of love as a special musical performance in honour of the Bard’s 400th anniversary is staged at the Corn Exchange on Friday, October 7.

Music Oft Hath Such a Charm: Shakespeare at the Opera will see the award-winning company Opera UpClose treat the county town audience to a tale of four friends featuring typical Shakespearean love triangles to the stage in what is being described as a ‘lively, unusual and ground-breaking performance’.

The production aims to take works inspired by the poetry and plays of Shakespeare, including show-stopping aria from Verdi’s Falstaff, the witty banter of Much Ado About Nothing, famous songs such as Schubert’s Who is Sylvia? and the musical theatre flamboyance of Kiss Me Kate.

A spokesman for Dorchester Arts said: “Known for its innovatively staged, unintimidating, affordable and high quality English chamber re-imaginings of well-known opera and song, vocal quartet OperaUpClose performs songs, ensembles, choruses and operatic arias with a virtuosic piano accompaniment.

“So brush up your Shakespeare and join Dorchester Arts in paying homage to the greatest playwright of them all.”

The performance starts at 8pm at the Corn Exchange on Friday, October 7.

For more information or to book tickets to the event visit dorchesterarts.org.uk or call Dorchester Arts on 01305 266926.