THE ROYAL Shakespeare Company will bring its tour of The Winter’s Tale to the Alhambra Theatre – next winter.

The Shakespeare classic, set in the 1950s and 1960s, will be performed at the Bradford theatre from February 2-6.

Set across a 16-year span from Mad Men to the moon landings, this new production - directed by RSC deputy artistic director, Erica Whyman – tells the story of King Leontes, whose jealousy rips his family apart and has lifelong consequences.

Erica said: “It is a story of a man with immense power, who abuses it in the grip of a totally consuming paranoia, but then comes to his senses on a very public platform and apologises - without limit or excuse.

“That seems to me an act of such rare humility, that to do justice to it Shakespeare conjures a true fairytale, in which grief, repentance, patience, love and common sense are all in the end rewarded.”

“I’m setting my production in the 1950s in a monarchy that has known fascism - an imagined Spain where politics, religion and power are deeply intertwined, moving later to 1969 in the North East of England in which real labour and a deep sense of community seems gloriously healthy, loving and straightforward by comparison.

“Shakespeare is for everyone, and being invited to tour to these welcoming and ambitious theatres is a significant plank of making that a reality.

“ I’ve been moved and encouraged by our audiences nationally: from my production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation in 2016 to my 2018 production of Romeo and Juliet, I’ve seen first-hand what it can mean for a community to engage with our productions.”

Call 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk to book tickets.