THE Royal Shakespeare Company's return to Northallerton next month looks set to be a huge success.

And much of the responsibility for that will be down to Guisborough-born assistant director, Samantha Potter.

Tickets for critically-acclaimed productions of Coriolanus and The Merry Wives of Windsor have been snapped up.

The clamour for tickets for performances at Hambleton Leisure Centre follows a pattern set by the RSC's visits to the town in 2000 and 1998.This year, Northallerton has the honour of being the first date on an extensive UK and international tour which will see the shows visiting 12 leisure centres and schools around the UK as well as dates overseas.

As part of the visit, six local youngsters will get the chance of a lifetime.

Five boys and a girl have been chosen to perform in the two plays at Northallerton. They were selected from a stage call last week, when a dozen hopefuls on a short-list were whittled down to six.

As soon as the RSC arrives in Northallerton on Sunday, February 2, the technical crew will start work erecting the company's unique mobile auditorium.

Five 45ft lorries carrying more than 50 tonnes of equipment - including everything from the auditorium, seating, costumes and set, to tea-urn and washing machine - will be unloaded.

Within 24 hours, the leisure centre will be transformed into a fully-operational professional theatre, ready for the opening performance on Tuesday, February 4.

Making sure the actors are kept in check will be Samantha Potter. It is her responsibility to ensure artistic quality is maintained throughout the tour.

Ms Potter has worked as director and assistant director with companies such as the Young Vic, Tara Arts and Soho Theatre.

The political thriller Coriolanus and comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor will play in repertoire with a shared company of 20 actors, giving theatregoers the opportunity to see the cast playing a range of different and often contrasting roles.

A complementary programme of education work will accompany the visit, run by education officer Virginia Grainger.

A pre-matinee event, which will take the audience behind the scenes and give them a chance to meet members of the crew and technical team, will take place on Friday, February 7 at 10.30.

Ms Grainger will also be working with Mill Hill Primary School in Northallerton and adult and amateur drama groups on February 6.

There will be a public workshop in the Galtres Centre in Easingwold on February 5, between 7 and 9pm. People can find out more about this and book tickets by contacting Kate Staines on 01609 767149.

Captioned and audio-described performances of The Merry Wives of Windsor will be available for people with hearing and visual impairments.

The RSC's visit is promoted by Hambleton Council.

Performances start with Coriolanus on Tuesday, February 4, at 7.30. The run ends on Saturday, February 8, with The Merry Wives of Windsor