YOU never know what lies around the corner, through a ginnel, along a cobbled street, in York, or maybe the profusion of ghost walks, buskers and stag and hen parties just puts you on alert.

Now you can add 11 sonneteers to the list, courtesy of the York Shakespeare Project, who first mounted a run of Sonnet Walks to mark Le Grand Depart for the 2014 Tour de France and have been invited to do so again for the 2017 York International Shakespeare Festival.

York Press:

Mick Taylor's ex-Army mourner in Dean's Park on York Shakespeare Project's Sonnet Walks. Picture: John Saunders

Produced and directed by Maurice Crichton and Helen Wilson, the walk lasts an hour on a winding, circular route from York Theatre Royal that takes in Precentor's Court, Dean's Park, Minster Yard, Chapter House Street, College Green and Jubilee Walk and ends up upstairs at the Yorkshire Terrier in Stonegate.

Guides Ian Timmins and Helen Wilson set out with a 15-minute gap between them to lead the audience – restricted to 16 each walk – to encounters with familiar pieces of the modern-day York jigsaw. These range from Diane Wyatt's Scottish tourist with an errant husband in a kilt and Celtic shirt to Mick Taylor's army memorial mourner; from Sophie Walmsley's confused tour guide to Hannah Forsyth's distressed, broke racegoer, missing one shoe; from Beth Stevens' runaway bride to Terry Ram's mournful poet. Each finds ultimate expression, after modern-day exchanges, in the words of a sonnet.

York Press:

Sophie Walmsley's confused tour guide on York Shakespeare Project's Sonnet Walks. Picture: John Saunders

Particularly enjoyable are Marguerite Moss's grandstanding theatre dame Henrietta and her besotted #1 Fan (Bill Laverick), while Victoria Delaney, Shirley Williams and Di Starr all add to the walk's joys.

Not only do these Sonnet Walks "bring Shakespeare back to the people" as your Bard, but they also do so at a traditionally quiet time of the day on York's streets.

Sonnet Walks, York Shakespeare Project, York International Shakespeare Festival, until Saturday, 6pm and 6.15pm, nightly and 12 noon and 12.15pm, Saturday. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk