WHEN the Meysey Players decided to perform a 'Tex-Mex' version of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, a crew from RAF Lynham flew to the rescue.

The play's director Roger Jenkins (who directed such television favourites as Poldark, The Onedin Line and Howard's Way) wanted huge Mexican hats and ponchos for the cast.

The Lynham crew took a bus over the Mexican border while on exercise in California, did the shopping and brought it all back on Fat Albert, their Hercules aircraft.

They also brought a tall, green toy donkey which they christened Donkey Oatey - get it? He will be filled with sweets and the member of the audience to guess the number wins both Oatey and his contents.

Much Ado About Nothing, a bitter-sweet comedy whose main story is the love match between Benedict and Beatrice, sparkles with sardonic wit.

It takes place this year in the gardens of Ampney St Mary Manor, a listed Cotswold manor house off the A417 between Fairford and Cirencester, the home of Mr and Mrs Mark Heaton.

Benedict is a confirmed batchelor and scorner of women, Beatrice is warned that she is too shrewish to get a husband and it takes the comic devices of friends to yoke the two of them together.

In contrast, the young lovers, Hero and Claudio, are victims of Don John's villainy when Hero is rumoured to be dead. The Head Constable, Dogberry, and his Watch bring great humour to the play as the plots wind and rewind.

The show takes place from July 3-6 and there is a discount on tickets bought before June 29, either from Cirencester TIC (01285 654180) or the Meysey Players box office on 01285 850158. The gardens open early for picnics.