REHEARSALS are under way for the "northern" company of Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York.

The cast of 17 actors gathered for the first time at York Theatre Royal yesterday morning to begin preparations for staging Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Europe’s first ever pop-up Shakespearean theatre on the Castle car park, Tower Street, between June 25 and September 2.

Lindsay Posner is already a fortnight into London rehearsals with the “southern” company of 17 that will present Richard III and Romeo And Juliet in York over the 10-week run.

The Theatre Royal’s Scottish artistic director Damian Cruden is directing the “Scottish play”, Macbeth; the theatre’s associate director, Juliet Forster, will be rehearsing A Midsummer Night’s Dream simultaneously, both in the De Grey Rooms, next to the Theatre Royal.

Richard Standing, who appeared in Blood + Chocolate on the streets of York in 2013, will play the title role in Macbeth and Snug in “Midsummer”; York actress, writer, tutor and director Leandra Ashton will be Lady Macbeth and Snug’s fellow Mechanical, Peaseblossom, in “Midsummer".

“I’ve done a lot of plays of this kind for Northern Broadsides, but in some ways this is completely different, meeting new people to work with, so it’s like a first day at school,” said Richard, before recalling his time in Blood + Chocolate. “I was in long underpants, playing a conscientious objector, the last time I was up at the Eye of York.

“Playing Macbeth is a ‘ridiculous’ opportunity! I’ve been enjoying knowing I’ve been cast for eight weeks; now I’ve got to do it.”

Leandra hosted Lunchbox Theatre’s launch ceremony for Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre last October at The Grand Hotel.

“I remember saying, ‘more than anything, as an actor, I hope to get some work out of it!’,” she said, having concentrated on writing and directing for the past five years.

“I got an audition and that was it. I’m playing Lady Macbeth.”

Tickets for Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre are on sale on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.