The Midland's Shakespeare show

A total of 15 players from Lancaster’s Haffner Orchestra will be playing Shakespeare-related pieces in the foyer of the Midland on Sunday April 24.

Justin Doyle, the Haffner’s musical director, will be conducting and the free event forms part of the “Bard by the Beach” Morecambe Shakespeare Festival.

One of the festival organisers heard some Haffner players during the Lancaster Music Festival last October, noticed they were playing a whole concert of Shakespeare-related music in June this year and invited them to join in the festival. A Haffner Orchestra spokesman said: “The Midland Hotel is a great place to play, it’s a vast Grade II listed Art Deco Design building with fabulous sea views across Morecambe Bay.

“We were very pleased we were asked.

“It will give people a free taster of our concert on Saturday June 18 and is a wonderful opportunity to see and hear members of the orchestra, performing up close.”

The players are at the Midland between 1pm and 4pm. No need to book, unless you want afternoon tea (ring the hotel on Marine Road West on 01524 424000).

The concert of Shakespeare music, with the full orchestra of 70 players on the stage, is at the Ashton Hall, Dalton Square, Lancaster, at 7.30pm on Saturday June 18.

The Bard By The Beach: Morecambe Shakespeare Festival will take place over the weekend of April 22-24.