SHAKESPEARE producer James Cundall came face-to-face with a book published by his ancestor 400 years ago and one of the most treasured volumes of literature in the world, when he visited Craven Museum in Skipton.

He was able to handle Craven’s own copy of William Shakespeare’s first folio of work, published in 1623 by Henry Condell and his friend John Heminge, both working colleagues of the Bard.

Mr Cundall was in Skipton especially to see the first folio as he prepares to put on four of Shakespeare’s plays in York next to Clifford’s Tower.

Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre will be constructed on the spot from state-of-the-art scaffolding technology, corrugated iron and timber with the historic 13-sided design of an Elizabethan theatre.

Mr Cundall said: “To be allowed to handle a First Folio that would have been handled by my ancestor was both humbling and an immense privilege,

“When I looked at the pages of the First Folio, I realised what an incredibly lengthy and complex process it must have been to compile these works and typeset them, from the various randomly published or written sources at that time.

“I’m sure Henry Condell - the name was changed - would be fascinated by Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre that we are creating and would totally recognise the performance space as being the same that he and Shakespeare created at The Globe.”

Danielle Daglan, the museum’s programming and venue development manager, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre project to Craven Museum as they prepare for a fantastic summer of performances up the road in York.

“The museum’s First Folio is home to one of only four of Shakespeare’s First Folios on permanent public display in the world.

“Craven Museum is itself embarking on an exciting and ambitious project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund to completely re-imagine the museum, based in Skipton Town Hall.

“So now is a great time to encourage more visitors to come and see the First Folio and find out about our plans for the future.’’

Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre will perform Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Richard III, afternoon and evening, in the week starting June 25.

The First Folio of Shakespeare’s 36 plays was published seven years after the playwright’s death in 1616 by his two closest friends.

Henry Condell was an actor in The King’s Men troupe and a partner in the Globe Theatre.

It is considered the most important book in English literature – and Yorkshire has one of the only copies on permanent display in the world.

Without Condell and Heminge many of these great works may well have been lost to future generations.

As such, the First Folio is considered the most important book in English Literature and hugely significant to Shakespearean scholars and fans of the Bard’s work.

Only 750 copies were printed – with about 235 surviving worldwide.

Around 50 are thought to remain in Britain with the copy at Craven Museum being one of only four on permanent display in the world.

The original Rose Theatre was built in 1587 on the south bank of the River Thames in London.

It was a slightly irregular 14-sided structure made of timber, with plaster exterior and a thatched roof, open in the centre to the elements.