Crowds flock in as Ludlow Festival off to a flying start

Ludlow Festival got off to a great start with hundreds of people attending events and many of the shows receiving rave reviews from audiences, delighted organisers said today.

Audiences have flocked in large numbers to events in the town including animation workshops, concerts and morris dancing displays since the two-week festival started on Saturday.

More than 650 attended the opening night of an open-air production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing on Saturday night at Ludlow Castle.

Festival chiefs have been buoyed by positive feedback from audiences so far, and are urging more people to go along and support the festival.

Liz Hyder, festival spokeswoman, said: "The weather has not been brilliant so far but we are really pleased with how many people have been getting involved — particularly the numbers that came to the Shakespeare play on the opening night.

"The reaction has been brilliant – everyone loved the play judging by the feedback we have had from people talking to stewards and comments made on Twitter.

"I think some people may have held off booking tickets until they knew what the play would be like, but yesterday the box office was really busy all day.

"It is not just the play – a lot of the events we held as part of the fringe festival went really well too.

"And we have had lots of good comments after a concert by Ensemble Sine Nomine in St Laurence's Church on Sunday.

"As ever we would always like bums on seats and people to come and support us, and we have scrapped booking fees this year to encourage more people to buy tickets."

For details visit www.ludlowfestival.co.uk or call the box office on (01584) 872150.