LUDLOW Festival opens on Saturday with a rare full peal of over 5000 changes on St Laurence's famous bells from 9am, and at 8pm this year’s Shakespeare production, Much Ado About Nothing starts its two-week run in Ludlow Castle. The cast for the production, which has been created especially for Ludlow Festival 2012, sees the action transported to WW2 Britain on VE Day, transforming Ludlow Castle into a Victory Day celebration party.

Following last year’s production of Twelfth Night the festival welcomes back the creative team of director Charlie Walker-Wise and acclaimed set and costume designer Anthony Lamble and a cast led by renowned theatre star Tim Woodward and rising stars Ellie Beavan, Rachel Donovan and Matthew Douglas.

A feast of music is on offer throughout the festival, starting with a gala organ recital tomorrow by James Lancelot, one of the UK’s most renowned organists, and including Hereford’s own Ensemble Sine Nomine performing Handel’s Messiah accompanied by the Corelli String Orchestra, concerts by the Orchestra of the Swan, one of the most exciting chamber orchestras in the UK, and the Fron Male Voice Choir as well as a celebration of the musicals as Ludlow Choral Society present On Broadway.

Elsewhere, there are talks by Much Ado director Charlie Walker-Wise and by film critic Matthew Sweet on the secret history of the British film industry.

As part of Dickens 2012, BAFTA-award winner Miriam Margolyes reprises her acclaimed one-woman show, Dickens’ Women, in which she portrays more than 20 of Dickens’ best-loved characters.

Meanwhile, Extra, the Ludlow Festival Fringe is also packed with events – from the Battle of the Bands to Boycie (John Challis) and brewery tours.

As ever, the festival closes in style with music – from Bjorn Again and Killer Queen –and a spectacular firework display.