THE complete works of William Shakespeare will be performed in the space of 97 minutes in west Dorset.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company will stop off in Bridport and Lyme Regis on their UK summer tour next week - performing all 37 of Shakespeare's plays in under 100 minutes.

Following the success of their nationwide tours in 2013 and 2014, the company are playing a further 19 dates this year.

The production will provide an irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard's plays. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare was London's longest-running comedy, having clocked an impressive nine years in London's West End at the Criterion Theatre.

A bunch of madcap men in tights will weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare's comedies, histories and tragedies in one wild ride that will leave the audience breathless and helpless with laughter.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe that takes long, serious subjects and reduces them to short, sharp comedies.

Since 1981, ‘The Bad Boys of Abridgement’ have created eight stage shows, two television specials, several failed television pilots and numerous radio pieces – all of which have been performed, seen, heard and translated into Klingon the world over.

The company’s first three shows, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, The Complete History of America and The Bible: The Complete Word of God enjoyed a nine-year run at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus. Not only were they London’s longest-running comedies, but at one point the Reduced Shakespeare Company had more shows running in the West End than Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The company were last seen in the UK with their highly successful Complete World of Sports which toured the country before completing a season in London’s West End during the 2012 Olympics.

The production will be performed at the Marine Theatre on Thursday, June 25 and Bridport Arts Centre on Friday, June 26.