The long-awaited return of the Royal Shakespeare Company to Littleport did not disappoint on Tuesday night, as the theatre group began its five-night run of The Canterbury Tales at the leisure centre. Five lorries rolled into the centre s car park on Mon

The long-awaited return of the Royal Shakespeare Company to Littleport did not disappoint on Tuesday night, as the theatre group began its five-night run of The Canterbury Tales at the leisure centre.

Five lorries rolled into the centre's car park on Monday, containing 50 tonnes of equipment, including a stage, seating - and the actors' washing machine.

By Tuesday, hours of preparation had transformed the sports hall into a fully-functioning theatre in time for the sold-out opening performance that evening.

The production, based on Geoffrey Chaucer's seminal middle English text, recounts the tales a group of pilgrims tell one another on their way to Canterbury.

The Canterbury Tales runs until Saturday but all performances are sold out.

# Edward Hughes and Lisa Ellis perform a scene from The Canterbury Tales.

Photo: RICHARD MARSHAM