ROGER Jenkins, chairman of the Meysey Players, is delighted that in addition to having Dame Judi Dench as patron of the group of amateur actors based in the village of Meysey Hampton, he has been able to add the support of Sir Peter Hall as honorary president.

The Meysey Players fifth summer garden production is Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and it will be performed from Thursday, July 3 until Sunday, July 6 in the beautiful gardens of Ampney St Mary Manor by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Mark Heaton.

Roger has already had a note of best wishes for the production from Dame Judi who says, "Good luck to everyone associated with Much Ado About Nothing. I'd love to be there but I shall be with you in spirit."

Sir Peter has been director of both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre but his friendship with Roger goes back much further.

They acted together and shared rooms together at university and are currently working on a theatre play called The Pig Trade written by Simon Gray, the prolific West End playwright.

The play is based on material researched and written by Roger, concerning the relationship between Bernard Berenson, the eminent art expert, and art dealer Joe Duveen who later became Lord Duveen of Millbank.

Sir Peter hopes to direct the play, which deals with the battle of wills between these two great egoists, later in the year.

Tickets for Much Ado are available from the box office on 01285 850158 or from Cirencester Tourist Information Centre on 01285 654180.