Maidstone-based Changeling Theatre company have lifted the curtain on their 20th anniversary tour, which is taking Hamlet to venues from beaches to parks and castles.

They know how to pick their spots for their summer tour - and they know how to pick their cast too (and the weather!)

Last night, on their second night performing at picturesque Boughton Monchelsea Place near Maidstone (which surely has the best sweeping view of the Weald there is) the scene could not have been better set.

Opening to sunshine and tweeting birds, as evening fell over the performance, there was barely enough of a chill to need to pull on a coat.

One of Shakespeare's most enduring plays, Hamlet is a test and a half for the main role, and young Alex Phelps took on Hamlet like a boss.

As is tradition with the young and cheeky Changeling company, there was plenty of humour, asides, and audience participation and for Alex to be able to do that while carrying such a theatrical challenge was mightily impressive.

Open air theatre across Kent this summer

The production had some brilliant touches of choreography, a little touch of music here and there, while clever use of cubes throughout the staging gave not only gravity to certain lines but meant if you were sitting behind someone built like The Rock, you could still see the action.

And when I say action, I mean action. Hamlet and Laertes' sword fight in the dramatic darkness had the audience on the edge of their picnic chairs.

Even easy to follow for those who struggle with Shakespeare, the cast were word and step perfect, and the lighting and acoustics were faultless, so that all eyes were simply on the show.

The company will take their open air production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet to more than 30 settings across the country throughout the summer to mark their 20th anniversary. If we're lucky, we will get them for another 20 years.

For tickets and venues, visit changeling-theatre.com