Ten thousand free tickets are available for two upcoming shows - Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and William Faulkner's 1930s American classic As I Lay Dying - at the Young Vic from this May. The offer is extended to theatre "virgins"-- those who have not recently or have never been to the theatre.

Because theatre-going is often considered elitist and expensive, the Young Vic aims to remove the initial financial risk (even the interval ice creams are supplied free), with the hope that many will enjoy the experience enough to try it again.

The free tickets are made possible through the National Lottery's Arts 4 Everyone funding initiative through which the Young Vic was awarded one of the highest grants in September 1997. Bookings must be made for groups of no fewer than 10 people who are not regular theatre-goers.

Contact Barry Wilson at the Young Vic on +44-171-633-0133 for more information.

–By Terri Paddock
London Corresponent