The Roman Theatre Open Air Festival is returning to St Albans - and promises a "glittering summer of outdoor entertainment".
The festival, run by OVO, will take place at the historic Roman Theatre from June 5 to September 6.
From June 5 to July 29 OVO presents a musical version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set in Belfast in 1998.
The festival is mounting its first co-production with Pitlochry Festival with Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Lipstick, Ketchup and Blood from June 23 to August 19.
Adam Nichols, artistic director of OVO, said: "I’m particularly excited about this year’s Roman Theatre Open Air Festival in which we mark a number of dramatic firsts.
"OVO’s principal focus is to present modern updates of classic stories and Lesley Hart’s version of perhaps the best-loved Sherlock Holmes story really fits the bill.
"OVO and Pitlochry share a passion for producing bold and imaginative theatre in stunningly beautiful outdoor locations and I think audiences at the Roman Theatre are going to love this production."
From July 5 to 8 OVO and Creation Theatre, Oxford present Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, and from July 14 to August 20 audiences can see Mike Kenny's Olivier award-winning adaptation of E. Nesbit's The Railway Children.
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Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, written by playwright Sophie Swithinbank, will return to the Roman Theatre from August 2 to 5.
Adam added: "We’re delighted to be working again with directors Stephanie Allison and Amy Connery whose musical production of Little Women was so popular last year we’re staging it again this summer."
Finally from August 31 to September 6, OVO presents a "bold, imaginative and immersive" new production of Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera.
"Live music has always been an important part of the Festival," Adam said. "This year we’re bringing Weill and Brecht’s riotous musical comedy, The Threepenny Opera, to the Roman Theatre for the first time.
"I’ll be directing it along with star soprano and stage director Julia Mintzer, before the show moves to the world famous Minack Theatre in Cornwall in September."
For the full programme and ticket information go to www.ovo.org.uk.
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