A THEATRE group is brewing up a treat to coincide with its annual summer play after the success of a real ale produced for last year's show.

The Barnard Castle-based Castle Players celebrated last year's production of Shakespeare's As You Like It with a beer made by micro brewery Mithril Ales at Aldbrough St John.

Dubbed Beer As You Like It, the ale proved so popular another is to be brewed ready for this year's castle Players production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which will be staged in the grounds of The Bowes Museum from July 9-13.

All that is needed is a name for the new ale – and Castle Players' Andrew Harrison said suggestions were welcome.

“There are many characters and incidents in A Midsummer Night's Dream which would make great names for a real ale.

“We thought it would be fun to see what creative suggestions people could come up with.”

He said the best would be entered into a draw with the winner being treated to a visit to Mithril Ales to see the ale being brewed and two tickets for the first night's performance.

Castle Players member Peter Cockerill – landlord of The Old Well Inn, in Barnard Castle - said Beer As You Like had tickled many a tastebud.

“It was on sale in a number of pubs in the area and was very well received,” he said.

“We are looking forward to another real ale being brewed especially for this year's production.”

Anyone who can come up with a name for this year's A Midsummer Night's Dream ale should email suggestions to fred.traice@talktalk.net.

Closing date is June 1 and all entrants must be over 18.