THE SHAKESPEARE industry is already well-established in Britain - it's one of our major tourist attractions, as well as being our most successful cultural export.

So, like any good business, we've had to branch out and expand. Which is why Bath's sixth annual Shakespeare festival features not only plays by the Bard, but plays by his contemporaries based on his work and a new play about Shakespeare himself.

Deborah Shaw, director of the Bath Shakespeare Festival, said: "This year's festival reflects the deeper relationships we've been developing with companies both at home and abroad.

"We've brought English and German actors together in a fascinating mix of acting traditions for Much Ado About Nothing.

"National treasures Forkbeard Fantasy have written a brand-new show for us and have been sharing their performance secrets with the Theatre Royal's Young People's Theatre.

"There's a magical, home-produced A Midsummer Night's Dream for children and family audiences and we've encouraged the formation of the first pan-Arab theatre company, the Al-Hamlet Summit, currently rehearsing in Kuwait.

"Our influence is spreading far and wide and the festival fortnight is the culmination of all this artistic endeavour - a true celebration of Shakespeare in the 21st century."

The festival opens with the UK premiere of Bremer Shakespeare's interpretation of Much Ado, from Wednesday to Saturday, March 6, in a Anglo-German co-production.

On Sunday, March 7, Bampton Classical Opera present a rare chance to see Falstaff, a comic opera by Mozart's contemporary Saleri.

From March 10 to March 13, Forkbeard Fantasy mix film and theatre for Shooting Shakespeare, a murder mystery set in the early years of cinema centred around a silent movie version of The Tempest.

From Wednesday to Saturday, March 6, the Sulayman Al-Bassam Theatre Company offer The Al-Hamlet Summit, setting the classic tragedy in a Middle Eastern state on the verge of war.

And on March 8 and 9, Explosive Acts present Othellophobia, a condensed version of the original play featuring physical theatre, martial arts, and comedy.

* For more information or to book for the festival, call the box office on 01225 448844.