The Royal Shakespeare Company is bringing a special young people’s version of The Taming of the Shrew to Bradford.

The ‘First Encounter’ production of The Taming of the Shrew is aimed at eight to 13-year-olds and comes to Bradford as part of a six-week UK tour of schools and regional theatres.

With male actors playing female roles, and vice versa, the production tells the story of two people’s “crazy journey towards becoming the perfect match”.

Using an edited version of the original text, it will include an introduction to the performance and a chance to hear from the actors, to create a great first experience of seeing Shakespeare live.

Director Michael Fentiman said: “Our production will embrace a spirit of mash-up and confusion. Girls dressed as present day males will play the boys – but without beards.

“Boys dressed as Elizabethan females will play the girls. Feminine and masculine are thrown around so that the audience can focus on a story about two extraordinary people who find each other in the midst of madness, fighting like cat and dog, but, in doing so, fall madly in love.”

the Taming of the Shrew is at St George’s Hall from February 20 to 22. For tickets ring (01274) 432000.

The production wil also e at Bingley Grammar School on February 18 and 19. Tickets are available on (01274) 807700.