The Queen is opening up the grounds of Balmoral for a production of a Shakespeare comedy first performed when Elizabeth I was on the throne.
A touring company has struck a deal to stage A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Her Majesty’s private home in Aberdeenshire.
An audience of about 400 is expected to attend the performance at the 50,000 acre royal retreat in July.
Travelling company, the Three Inch Fools, is behind the event – which will take place before The Queen takes up residence at the estate this summer.
The five-strong troupe of actors said that performing at Balmoral would be a “fantastic honour”.
Producer and co-founder, James Hyde, said: “We are delighted to add the castle to our summer tour.
“We are always dreaming up new places to perform. It is just for one night – then moving on the next day.
“I don’t know whether there is a heritage of Shakespeare at the castle, but it will be our first performance there.”
He added: “It is weather dependent, we have a travelling stage that packs down into the back of our van.
“At our biggest venues we have between 300 to 400 in the audience.”
Midsummer Night’s Dream was written in the late 16th century and portrays the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons.
The play is one of the Bard’s most famous, with some fans speculating that it was written for Elizabeth I to celebrate the feast day of St. John.
The show will take place on Tuesday, July 24.