THE beautiful and historic ruins of Titchfield Abbey are once again set to ring with the dulcet tones of Shakespeare's England in what promises to be a feast for lovers of the Bard.

Members of Titchfield Festival Theatre, formed this year, are to perform two plays by Shakespeare - Much Ado About Nothing (Sunday until July 22), and Twelfth Night (July 24 to 29).

The abbey, dating from 1232, is in a 3.5 acre site containing the ruins of the magnificent mid-Tudor mansion, Place House, built by the first Earl of Southampton.

When it was an abbey, three monarchs were guests, Richard II, Henry V - before he embarked for the epic Battle of Agincourt - and his son Henry VI, who was married in the abbey. Strangely, Shakespeare plays of these names followed.

The Earls of Southampton entertained Edward VI, Elizabeth I, Charles I and Charles II at Place House as it became known after the Reformation.

Kevin Fraser, of Titchfield Festival Theatre , said: "The third earl was closely associated with Shakespeare and it was there that the Bard wrote and performed some of his most famous plays and sonnets.

"The abbey is to become the subject of new research to be released shortly. This will show its links with Shakespeare are far greater than most Shakespeare scholars ever imagined - making the abbey and its surrounds as important a centre for Shakespeare lovers as Stratford."

To arrange play bookings telephone 01329 317907 or local tourist information offices.