THE four plays to be performed at Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre in York next year have been revealed.

They are four of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays: Hamlet, Henry V, The Tempest and Twelfth Night, and tickets are going on sale from today through Ticketmaster and York Theatre Royal.

The four plays relate respectively to the themes of revenge, heroism, magic and mischief, said James Cundall, CEO of international theatre company, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which is behind the theatre. He said the plays had been selected from across the genres, offering something for everyone, and would be performed in repertory by two companies of actors from June 25 until September 1.

Mr Cundall was confirming that City of York Council had approved the theatre’s return to the Castle Car Park below Clifford’s Tower for both 2019 and 2020.

He said he was "absolutely delighted", saying: “We had a wonderful response from our 80,000 visitors over the summer and an overwhelming number of requests to return, so now preparations are in full swing for our four new productions.

“We are delighted to play a part in the fabric of York and offer something different for both residents and visitors.”

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said the theatre had been one of the many highlights of 2018 for the region, and Welcome to Yorkshire had been proud to be a supporter of such a world-class event.

“I am very pleased to see the unique theatre return to York with four exciting new productions and am sure that once again local businesses and the wider York community will benefit hugely from this attraction,” he added.

James said the Elizabethan-style theatre would be constructed using state-of-the-art scaffolding technology, corrugated iron and timber.

It would house an audience of 900, with 560 seated on three tiered balconies around an open-roofed courtyard with standing room for 340 ‘groundlings,’ and once again it would be located within a free-to-enter Shakespearean village, with an authentic Elizabethan ambience.