This week marks the 25th Anniversary of the lush and lavish romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes, sweeping the boards at the Oscars. Having been nominated for 13 awards, it won seven, including Best Actress for Gwyneth Paltrow and Best Screenplay, as well as beating Saving Private Ryan to the top prize for Best Picture. It also won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Dame Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I in what was the shortest ever Oscar winning performance at just under six minutes. 

And 25 years later, Penarth Operatic & Dramatic Society (PODS) are putting on the stage adaptation of the film next week at the Paget Rooms.

This enchanting and hilarious story follows young Will Shakespeare who has writer's block. The deadline for his next play - Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter - is fast approaching and he is in desperate need of inspiration. That is, unitl he finds his muse, the feisty, brilliant and beautiful Viola. This crafty young woman is Will's greatest admirer and will stop at nothing to appear in his next play, even though women are not allowed to appear on stage.

Against a bustling background of of mistaken identity, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics, Will's love for Viola blossoms, inspiring him to write his greatest masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet.

Shakespeare in Love is being directed for PODS by Alex Wilson, of Penarth based Red Herring Theatre, who recently picked up the Best Director and Best Drama awards at the annual "Glammies" hosted by the Glamorgan Drama League, for his production of Miracle on 34th Street. "When I was considering potential plays to direct for the start of PODS Centenary year, I was immediately drawn to Shakespeare in Love" Alex explained. "I loved the film and with so little is known of Shakespeare's life, imagining how he may have been influenced by events, both comic and tragic, in his own life, is a great premise for a play."

"I'm always looking for a challenge and when I was asked to direct a play for PODS Centenary, the first task was choosing the right play for this important milestone in PODS' history. Shakespeare in Love is itself a celebration of theatre - it has everything; love, tragedy, laughter, tears, music, a sword fight and a dog! I've loved everything about this production".

PODS Chairman, Mary Gardner, who has been a member of PODS for an incredible 53 years - over half of its 100 year history - will be taking on the role of Queen Elizabeth I. Talking about her role she said "I am thrilled to be part of this Centenary production in the role of Queen Elizabeth, played by Judi Dench in the film, winning her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. I have no pretensions of doing likewise!"

BAFTA winning designer, Andy Bradshaw, has designed the Queen Elizabeth costume that Mary will wear on stage in the production. Based on the original dress worn by Dame Judi Dench in the movie, Andy has been assisted in the intricate making of the gown, including hundreds of hand-fixed gem stones, by TV and film costume-maker Angharad Gamble. Angharad, who runs her own sewing school, has previously made costumes for programmes such as the BBC dramas Torchwood and Merlin as well as Sky's Da Vinci Demons.

Shakespeare in Love is on at the Paget Rooms from Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd March and tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/pods