Stafford Shakespeare and the Gatehouse Theatre have announced the principal cast for this year's production of Hamlet.

Among the principal cast are Stafford-born actor Benedict Shaw (Boat Story, BBC, The Syndicate, national tour), Matthew Khan (Waterloo Road, BBC, A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, Netflix, Brassic, Sky TV) and Llinos Daniel (Torchwood, BBC, The Light In The Hall, Channel 4).

They will be joined by a full professional cast with film, TV and theatre credits including Lichfield-born Alex Wadham, Stoke-on-Trent’s Sean O’Callaghan and Cannock’s hotly-tipped newcomer Conor Price.

In addition, members of highly-acclaimed Staffordshire-based drama group Lucid Spark will take on supporting roles, having performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company last year.

The play will be traditional text with details of the design concept to be announced in the coming weeks.

The theatre is reaching out to schools across the county, inviting teachers to get in touch about discounted group packages and free educational packs.

In addition, hundreds of Hamlet bookmarks are being distributed free to Stafford schools to mark World Book Day on Thursday, March 6.

Marketing Manager Keith Harrison said: "We’ve got two dedicated School Performances in the run and seeing Shakespeare performed live is always a huge help for pupils approaching English or drama exams, especially as Hamlet is on the national curriculum so often.

We’re sending out bookmarks and we can arrange visits to the theatre and possibly chats with some of the cast and creatives, to help gain a better understanding of the play.

Benedict Shaw is a former Blessed William Howard High School pupil in Stafford and we are looking forward to working with staff and pupils there as the run draws nearer."

Stafford Shakespeare is also working on an arts project for primary schools and creative staff will be taking part in St Mary’s Church festival in July.

Keith added: ‘One of the key themes of this year’s production is community engagement; getting involved with as many local groups as possible. So if anyone wants to discuss a visit or working with us on this incredible project, just get in touch."

Director Richard Cheshire said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be working with this cast and also to have a Staffordian as Hamlet, along with other Staffordshire actors, too.

It’s a professional cast and we’re looking to put the ‘Stafford’ back into ‘Stafford Shakespeare’ with this year’s production.

Historically, Stafford Shakespeare began with the people of the town as part of the performance and that’s what we want to get back to this year, as well as having first-class actors with decades of film, TV and theatre experience.

It's a great mix and I think having people with that affinity for Stafford Shakespeare is going to create something very special this summer."

The opening night has sold out and almost 2,000 tickets have already been snapped up for the production, putting it well ahead of last year’s critically-acclaimed Twelfth Night: A Cornish Tale.

Hamlet runs from 24 June to 5 July, with tickets available on 01785 619080 or at gatehousetheatre.co.uk.