A TROUPE of dancers performed a ballet adaptation of a William Shakespeare play in Southampton city centre, celebrating the 450th anniversary of the playwright’s birth.

Four members of the Northern Ballet company based in Leeds previewed a few dances from A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the city’s Bargate Monument in the High Street.

The 40-strong company will be returning to the city to perform an adaptation of the Bard’s play at The Mayflower theatre from Wednesday, May 28, to Saturday, May 31, as part of their spring tour.