MAURICE Crichton is learning the ukulele specially for his role in Twelfth Night at York Theatre Royal next month.

"I'm playing Feste the fool, who's a musician, so I'm determined to get to a good enough level where I can actually pass for one," says Maurice, who has been taking lessons from Fergus McGlynn, the musical director and composer for the York Shakespeare Project production.

"There's a whole ensemble of performers who'll be playing instruments and we'll have hopefully as many as four ukuleles," says Australian-born Fergus.

"Basically, Fergus said, 'Anyone in the cast who can play an instrument, we'll try to use your musical talent," says Maurice. Ironically, however, he was the one who needed tuition after being cast as a musician.

"I really lobbied Maurice into playing the ukulele, and there are two reasons I suggested the ukulele" says Fergus. "Feste is a travelling musician and I can't imagine he travels heavy. He probably travels light, so rather than a hulking great cello, the ukulele is the kind of instrument he could travel with.

"But also, hurrying on and off stage, the ukulele can be secreted away in a pocket or maybe a backpack, which is what I've been carrying on my back these past few months, when I was back home in Australia."

Maurice learnt clarinet at school but had not picked up the instrument since then. "Though more recently I've been playing a few chords on guitar, without any formal training, and I kind of got into singing and playing guitar together at home, which I've quite enjoyed," he says. "I've also done a little bit of piano playing, but now I'm receiving really skilled teaching from Fergus."

Maurice has undertaken an intensive programme of tuition and has warmed to the ukulele in those two months. "It has more musical potential than the pipe and tabor that the medieval minstrel used and became the foundation of the one-man band," he says.

As part of his familiarisation with performing the ukulele, Maurice joined Fergus and various ensemble members to play a couple of numbers from Twelfth Night at the Black Swan Folk Club.

"Music will be a big part of the YSP production, and Fergus wrote a whole lot of music in the six weeks he was in Australia looking out at the bush," says Maurice. "As well as O Mistress Mine, Come Away Death and It Raineth Every Day, there'll be a couple of times that I'll be taunting Malvolio with Hey Robin Jolly Robin and I Am Gone Sir And Anon Sir."

Director Mark Smith wanted to create a "fast, fun and folky production with live music" and Fergus has been delighted to answer to that call. "Mark has a clear insight of what he requires and I latched on to that," he says. "We also talked about the kind of folk musicians we liked: Fleet Foxes, Nick Drake, a bit of Cat Stevens and especially Old Man Luedecke, from Canada. He's a great template for Feste as a single guy who travels around singing songs."

York Shakespeare Project presents Twelfth Night at York Theatre Royal Studio from April 3 to 12, 7.45pm and 2pm, April 5 and 12. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk