Celebrated actor Peter Hamilton Dyer is swapping the West End for Framlingham this summer as he leads a community production designed to help restore one of Suffolk's most historic performance spaces.

More than 50 local people have come together with FramArts to stage Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at Framlingham's Old Theatre, with every ticket sold helping to support the renovation of this much-loved venue.

Performances will take place on 30th July, 31st July and 1st August, bringing live theatre back to the building for a project that organisers hope will mark the beginning of its revival as a creative hub for the local community.

Peter, who lives in Framlingham, is one of Britain’s most experienced Shakespearean actors, is directing the production.

He has appeared in more than 30 productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare's Globe, starred in Doctor Who and more recently in ITV's new drama A Taste for Murder.

His theatre credits include the internationally acclaimed productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III, starring Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry, which transferred from Shakespeare's Globe to London's West End and Broadway, alongside productions of King Lear in Tokyo, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Comedy of Errors, Antony and Cleopatra and Henry VIII.

Away from the stage, Peter has built an extensive television and film career, with credits including Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Downton Abbey, Silent Witness, Doctor Who, Emmerdale, Upstart Crow, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, The Nest and ITV's forthcoming drama A Taste For Murder.

He said: "I've been incredibly fortunate to spend my career performing Shakespeare on some of the world's greatest stages, but there is something very special about bringing that experience home to Framlingham.

Back in the day. The Old Theatre has played an important role locally. Copyright: FramArts

"The Old Theatre has an extraordinary history and deserves a bright future. We wanted this production to be about far more than putting on a play. It's about bringing people together, creating something the whole town can be proud of and helping to secure the future of this wonderful building for generations to come."

Originally opened as The Assembly Hall in 1914, the Old Theatre occupies a prominent position beneath Framlingham Castle and has played an important role in the town's social history.

Over the decades it has hosted everything from community dances and political meetings to tractor launches and concerts by legendary artists including The Kinks and David Bowie.

Today, however, the building is in urgent need of investment, lacking essential facilities including heating, modern lighting and suitable toilets.

Peter is working with FramArts to create a community production to showcase the venue and raise much-needed funds for renovations.

They issued a public call-out for volunteers in May, and now have more than 50 people of all ages and backgrounds involved; whether performing on stage, building scenery, making costumes, working backstage or helping front of house.

Peter says, "The response from the community has been overwhelming. Many people had never performed before, while others are returning to the stage after years away. Watching everyone come together with such enthusiasm has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

"We hope audiences will come along not only to enjoy one of Shakespeare's most joyful plays, but also to be part of the next chapter in the story of the Old Theatre."