TWO drama students are being offered the chance to work with one of Britain's leading theatre companies.

The Royal Shakespeare Company is staging Coriolanus and The Merry Wives of Windsor, at the leisure centre in Northallerton in February.

They are looking for two students to shadow the lighting and sound technicians during one performance of each show.

Hambleton's District Council's leisure services officer Kate Staines said: "This is the opportunity of a lifetime, working with some of the UK's leading theatre experts.

"They will see how a production is put together in a very different venue from a theatre.

"The leisure centre is turned into an auditorium in a very short space of time with everything brought here in the back of articulated wagons."

To apply for the work shadowing placements, call Ms Staines on (01609) 767149.

* The visit is the RSC's fifth to Northallerton since 1991 and they will be staging eight performances between February 4 and 8.

However, The Merry Wives of Windsor is already a sell-out and more than 60 per cent of the tickets for Coriolanus have also been sold.

To book, or for more details, call the box office on (01609) 777070.