A theatre director's attempts to stage two open-air Shakespeare plays suffered enough misadventure to read like a comedy of errors.

Even the Bard himself would struggle to explain the series of tragedies with which Robert J Williamson had to cope when he brought his productions of Hamlet and As You Like It to Brighton.

From the moment the RJ Williamson Company arrived on July 1 to present the 2003 Shakespeare Festival at the Royal Pavilion Gardens, he was beset with a madcap romp of mistakes and misfortune worthy of one of the great plays.

First, his leading lady Tracy Shaw pulled out of her role as Celia in As You Like it because she was too exhausted to learn her lines.

The Coronation Street star's shock departure may not have put off punters but disappointed Coronation Street fans were offered refunds.

Mr Williamson had to shuffle his actors, with Jenni Bowden taking Tracy's part of Celia.

Then, his other main star Emily Lloyd, well known for her starring role in the film Wish You Were Hear, with her stilted delivery and movements, left many in the audience cringing.

She later confessed in interviews that she had mental health problems.

Mr Williamson suffered another setback when he was charged to keep the toilets next to the gardens open at night during the two-week run - running up a bill of £536 for extra toilet rolls.

He says he was not provided with any security facilities, forcing him to pay a security company £7,000 for 24 hours security and he says Brighton and Hove City Council failed to promote the two plays in any council literature.

To add insult to injury, he says only one councillor, former mayor David Watkins, came to see his shows despite all the councillors being offered free tickets.

Mr Williamson, who played Hamlet dressed in a leather jacket, said the experience has put him off Brighton and Hove. He may never bring Shakespeare to the city again.

He said the council put constant obstacles in the way of his productions.

Mr Williamson was also disappointed no one from the Arts Council came to see what his company was doing.

It was the second year running he had brought his open air Shakespeare to Brighton but he has vowed 2003 will be his last unless he is promised better treatment from the council.

He said: "I can quite honestly say, I will never bring another production to Brighton again while the council's attitude continues."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "We are sorry Mr Williamson has not enjoyed his time here. The terms of his contract were agreed with him well in advance."