A GIANT dragon will be the star of the show when theatre group Illyria appears at Lacock Abbey in August.

The Reluctant Dragon will be performed with the abbey as stage backdrop on Saturday August 3.

The tale was written by Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows. Illyria delighted young audiences at Lacock last year when it performed Alice in Wonderland.

The Reluctant Dragon was written primarily for children but the play has an adult dimension in its themes and characters. Environment and atmosphere are created using sound recordings such as wind, birds and music.

The play is set in the medieval town of Guidemere, in a land of knights and dragons. The dragon of the title is actually a loveable dragon whose life is dedicated to wit, poetry and an appreciation of sunsets rather than fire-breathing and eating maidens.

But trouble begins when the villagers threaten his cultivated existence by summoning St George, slayer of dragons.

The performance starts at 7pm and the gates open at 6pm for picnics. Visitors are advised to bring their own low-backed seating or rug to sit on, and warm clothes.

The performance, which is suitable for children aged five and over, will continue in all but the worst weather.

Tickets are available from the National Trust box office on 01985 843601 or at the Fox Talbot Museum, at £10 for adults and £5 for children.