ACTORS from a theatre group have been chosen to join the Royal Shakespeare Company on the northern leg of their latest national tour.

Six of the Castle Players based in Barnard Castle, County Durham have landed roles as the mechanicals in the Stratford-upon-Avon based company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

And a BBC documentary due to be aired next spring – provisionally entitled The Best Bottoms in the Land - will capture behind-the-scenes footage as the show moves from region to region.

The play will visit 12 regions and will feature a different local theatre group in each area.

The play hits The Northern Stage, Barras Bridge, Newcastle between March 16 and 26 next year.

One of the original rom-coms, it features the story of a bunch of lovable but bumbling craftsmen who rehearse and perform a play before royalty.

Peter Cockerill will play Bottom, Andrew Stainthorpe, Flute, the Bellows Mender, Harry French, Quince, the Carpenter, Ian Kirkbride, Starveling, the Tailor, Ben Pearson, Snout, the Tinker and Graham Fewell plays Snug, the Joiner. They will be also joined by director, Jill Cole.

The Castle Players was formed in 1986 when a group of friends decided to play charades at their local pub - they now stage annual productions in the grounds of the Bowes museum.

Erica Whyman, RSC Deputy Artistic Director praised the contribution made by local theatre groups to the show, adding: “The experience of casting our amateur actors all around the UK has been inspiring and humbling. I have met so many wonderful people: talented, dedicated and brave.”