One of the biggest events of its kind in the country, the festival will see almost 30,000 people make their way to the indoor amphitheatre at picturesque Tolethorpe Hall for three months of performances, beginning on Monday.

Playing alongside two of the bard's finest tragedies – Romeo and Juliet and Richard III – will be the perennial children's classic The Wind In The Willows, which will be lovingly brought to the stage by the Stamford Shakespeare Company.

More than 100 actors from across four counties will take part in the festival's total of 74 performances, and ticket sales already look set to smash last year's record-breaking season.

Brisk ticket sales have been boosted by the festival's inclusion in The Times' top 50 attractions to visit in Britain, and publicity officer Steve Whittaker said this year's event could even beat last year's record-breaking success.

"We certainly hope it'll be the biggest one yet," he said.

"All the indications are that it will be. Pre-ticket sales are about 24,000, which is absolutely brilliant, and we still have some time to go."

For many, the Stamford Shakespeare Festival is one of the highlights of the summer events calendar. The 600-seat open-air theatre in the scenic grounds of Tolethorpe Hall has a permament covered auditorium, ensuring that no performance is ever cancelled because of rain.

"The audience don't get wet, it's only the poor old actors," Steve said.

Described by theatrical newspaper The Stage as Britain's premier outdoor venue, the company is celebrating once again after the festival made it into The Times' Top 50 British attractions.

"We were very chuffed with that, because I think we were the only theatre in there – it was a very good feeling, particularly as the season is about to start."

Monday will be the culmination of months of hard work on the part of the Stamford Shakespeare Company. Steve said that the choices of plays are made as early as the previous season, before auditions take place in September and October.

With the Christmas break behind them, the actors start the first reading in January before voice coaches come in and workshops take place. Small scenes are then rehearsed before the plays are taken outside for full rehearsals during Easter.

Each year, the company stages a non-Shakespeare play alongside the bard's work. Last year, The Importance Of Being Earnest was chosen, which proved to be a winner with audiences, and it is hoped that this year's production of Wind In The Willows will be just as successful.

The basis for the play will be Alan Bennett's acclaimed adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's much-loved book.

"It actually works on two separate levels – there's something in there for the kids and a lot going on for the adults as well," said Steve.