SUMMER means Shakespeare in the great outdoors as actors recreate the olden days and their troupes of travelling players.

Setting up their stage in the grassed courtyard at Wallington Hall at Cambo, Northumberland, on Sunday evening will be the much travelled Illyria theatre company.

Appropriately enough, their offering this year is the comedy Twelfth Night, whose madcap action unfolds on the imaginary island of the same name.

This is the play of the shipwrecked Viola who dresses as a boy, of the perma-sozzled Sir Toby Belch and po-faced fellow peer Sir Andrew Aguecheek who is duped into wearing – horror of horrors – yellow garters, crossed.

“Illyria’s version of Twelfth Night promises to be an evening of romance, music and joy,” says Gillian Mason, Wallington’s visitor experience manager, bravely.

The National Trust, which runs the historic property, warns that “sturdy Northerners” can be assured the outdoor performance will happen “come rain or shine”.

For tickets, call 0844 249 1895 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Illyria will be back on August 14 with a blast of Gilbert and Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance.

Meanwhile, mark June 29 and 30 in your diary, for this is when the Oddsocks company perform Macbeth at Dilston Hall, Corbridge, Northumberland.

Rolling in with their “medieval pageant wagon”, they will tackle one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest fables. Purists should note that Oddsocks boast they “can make a comedy out of anything” – even, presumably, a tragedy.

Tickets from the Queen’s Hall, Hexham, on 01434 652477 or www.queenshall.co.uk