AUDIENCES will gather outside for reenactment of a fairy-filled Shakespearean tale.

Oxford University Press will host its first public drama performance involving professional actors, staging comic love story A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Crowds can observe the publisher's very own Music and Drama Society (MaDSoc) as they channel medieval characters, alongside actors from Oxford theatre company Leaning House.

Former OUP employee Miriam Higgins, producer of the play, said: “The opportunity to put on this show at a venue that is so steeped in Shakespearian history was too good to miss. The play is beautiful, slightly mad, and joyful – and the combination of professional actors with the energy of MaDSoc will mean it’ll definitely be one not to miss."

The drama society perform an annual Christmas pantomime and summer shows including The Importance of Being Earnest, but rarely open them up for public viewing.

OUP printed its first publication about Shakespeare in 1745 and today publishes more than 200 Shakespeare titles, with its latest due to be released in October.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed in the front quad at OUP's Walton Street offices in Jericho, from July 5 until July 9.

For tickets and timings visit oxfordplayhouse.com.