The British Shakespeare Company will present two of the Bard's comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream on Monday and Tuesday, August 17-18, and Much Ado About Nothing the following evening.

The production will have an Elizabethan setting and costumes and the cast of 16 will include Steven Blakeley (of TV's Heartbeat), Daniela Lavender (or Lady Ben Kingsley) and Gabriel Thomson. Tickets at £18 (concessions available) from Sheffield Theatres box office 2496000.

The Botanical Gardens seems to be a haven for outdoor theatre this summer. Heartbreak Productions follow last week's As You Like It with non-Shakespearean fare in Jane Austen's Emma from July 23-26 and The Wind in the Willows from July 29 to August 1. Then The Pantaloons are back with afree production of Romeo and Juliet from August 6-9 .


Pixie Lott lined up


THE line-up of pop acts on the Hallam FM stage on Devonshire Green at the new Sheffield Music City festival has been announced. Pixie Lott of Mama Do fame will kick off the party on Saturday, July 25 at 2pm, followed by the Noisettes, Little Boots, The Yeah You's, Raygun, Jade Ewen, Glassyouth, Craine, and Preston, formerly of the Ordinary Boys.

There will also be a World Stage, Kids Zone and big screen in the Peace Gardens, Music Village in Barkers Pool, and music performances across the city hosted by Tramlines.

The second day of the main stage, and climax to the festival, sees Reverend and the Makers headlining, supported by Liverpool band the La's and local bands.


Clegg gets arty


LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg will open the 22nd Great Sheffield Art Show at the Octagon Centre on Friday.

The event, the largest show in its kind in the North of England, is set to showcase more than 1,500 pieces of art work from 600 artists – both professionals and many exhibiting and selling for the first time in public. Running Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 10-12, the Great Sheffield Art Show is staffed solely by volunteers working on a shoestring budget.

But a stalwart will be taking a back seat this year. Co-organiser and preview night MC Mike Fearne is booked in for a heart operation in the days leading up to the show and is handing the microphone to BBC Radio Sheffield president and artist Gerry Kersey who will be doing the honours on Thursday night.


Another helping


ANOTHER member of the original cast of the TV series, Sue Devaney, is joining the national tour of Dinnerladies coming to the Lyceum from October 13-17.

She is stepping in after Shobna Gulati, previously advertised to appear, announced she was leaving to return to ITV's Coronation Street.

Devane played Jane in both series of Victoria Wood's comedy and will be playing the same part in the stage tour alongside fellow original Andrew Dunn as Tony.


Kasabian return


STRAIGHT from playing the 02 Academy Kasabian announce their return to the city at Sheffield Arena on Monday November 23 on a 10-date UK arena tour.
Tickets at £25 (plus booking fee) go on general sale at 9am on Friday.