AUDIENCES in Stroud will be spoiled for choice this February as Shakespeare's classics are re-imagined for the silver screen by students of Five Valleys Productions @ SGS College.

Be Not Afraid of Greatness is a collection of short films, all directed by first time female directors, that take inspiration from the stories of William Shakespeare (Macbeth, Othello, Sonnet 73 and The Taming of the Shrew) but each with their own unique twist.

Conceived, produced and edited by students, the films will premiere at the VUE cinema, Stroud on February, 8.

Following the premiere the films will be available for free on YouTube on February 10.

The premiere will include a Behind The Scenes look at how the films were made and a Q & A with the cast and crew.

Films include;'Blood Spilt in Paradise' directed by Fran Halligan, 'The Bloody Crown of Scotland', directed by April Wiseman, 'The Ashes of His Youth', directed by Cassie Riches and 'Can't Be Tamed', directed by Vicky Perrill.

Actors in the films are Tom Andrews, Lee Bowers, Carly Coopey, Chloe Gardiner, Sian Gogerly, Joe Orum, Summer Pargeter, Ben Robinson, Larnaca Simmonds and Jasmine Sweetland.

The films are produced by Alan Mandel Butler.

Five Valleys Productions (5VP) is a vocational, industry-based training production company based at SGS College, Stroud.

Student Jasmine Sweetland said: "You are not crushed to fit into a mould but encouraged to be yourself and be creative in your own way and embrace your individuality.

"In 5VP you learn from each other; teaching and sharing skills to expand one another's knowledge. This makes us a close community, allowing people to work together as a team to create work to be proud of."

Alan Mandel Butler, artistic director and course leader, said: "Shakespeare’s stories are the most enduring, exciting and unforgettable ever written. Adapting them for the screen is no mean feat but I am thrilled to be able to share what these four first time female directors have accomplished."

  • For tickets go to ticketsource.co.uk/fivevalleysproductions.
  • For more information visit facebook.com/5valleysproductions, twitter.com/5valleysprods, instagram.com/5valleysproductions and youtube.com/channel/UCUc2GtcOufiYjqXCrif_RXQ