A MICROBREWERY welcomed members of Barnard Castle's renowned Castle Players this week for its annual ale naming ceremony.

Since 2012, Peter Fenwick of Aldbrough St John’s Mithril Ales has brewed a custom beer for the Players’ summer outdoor Shakespeare performance in the grounds of Bowes Museum.

For the past two years, there has been no performances due to Covid but now the tradition resumes with a performance of The Comedy of Errors.

The special brew made to accompany the play is chosen by competition. Supporters of the Castle Players submit witty names appropriate for the play’s title and plot, and the one considered the best wins a collection of prizes, including a visit to the brewery to tip the hops into the vat and take part in a photo shoot with people from the drama group, including cast members in costume.

This year’s winner is Peter Montgomery of Aldbrough St John who suggested the name Twin Tipple as the whole plot of Comedy of Errors is based around the stories of identical twins in a chaotic and farcical plot.

Castle Players have relocated their production from the twin cities of Ephesus and Syracuse to 1930s New York and, at the ale naming on June 14, was actor Peter Cockerill, in costume, who plays the part of Dromio of Ephesus. Christine Gibson Bell, chairman of the Castle Players, was also there to explain more about the group and this particular production.

The Comedy of Errors runs from July 5 to 9 and tickets are on sale from the Witham. For more information, see www.castleplayers.co.uk.