A NEWPORT amateur theatre society is on the hunt for 21stcentury Shakespeares after being invited to take part in a project with a prestigious reward on offer.

Newport Playgoers Society is looking for original works based on a Shakespeare-related theme after it was invited, with hundreds of other amateur theatre companies, to come up with a new and innovative take on the bard by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s open stages project.

The best plays will be produced on the main stage of the 400-seat Dolman Theatre in March 2012.

Playgoers’ president Bruce Campbell said: “Productions from across the UK will be invited to perform at the World Shakespeare Festival in Stratford in 2012, alongside professional Shakespeare productions at the RSC – and it would be an amazing experience if we were chosen to be part of that.”

The competition comes after the success of Playgoer’s Ryder Cup-inspired playwriting festival last year.

The closing date for the No Holds Bard competition is September 1.

Application forms are available from dolmantheatre.co.uk and from newportplaygoers.wordpress.com.