TEENAGERS will stage a production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at a leading theatre after producing the Bard's classic on their own.

The 20 Stockton youngsters have worked for more than a year after being inspired by attending a Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) production.

Tickets are selling well for the play at the town's recently re-opened Arc theatre tomorrow and Thursday.

"Most of us were involved in school productions," said director Robert Icke.

"But when we saw Richard III and The Tempest by the RSC we thought, 'Why not us?' Shakespeare's the main man after all, so he'll do for us.

"We decided straight away not to have any adults involved and to do it all ourselves.

"We spent a lot of time getting support and money to stage it and we started rehearsals after our GCSEs in the summer. Everyone is really nervous but really excited as well."

A spokesman for The Arc said: "Never have we had a group of young people who have managed to run a whole production without an adult having a major input. They have managed, produced and directed a superb piece of theatre through sheer determination."

The teenagers, who are mostly 16 and 17 and former pupils of Stockton's Ian Ramsey School, have formed a theatre group called The Arden Theatre Company. The youngest member, Tom Reynolds, is only 14 and has a major part.

So far 160 tickets have been sold for Wednesday night and more than 100 for Thursday night. Tickets cost £5 or £4 for concessions.

More details are available from The Arc's box office on (01642) 525199.