RICH beyond measure, Timon of Athens loves feasts, friends and flattery. Yet when the financial crisis hits, his friends disappear, leaving him alone in the ruins of his extravagant lifestyle.

As his creditors close in, Timon prepares a final party to make his farewells, and what a farewell this will be, courtesy of York Shakespeare Project’s next show in 2015.

YSP will stage Timon Of Athens, Shakespeare’s dark tale of the dangers of greed, after sold-out runs of Othello and Twelfth Night in the York Theatre Royal Studio and this week’s All’s Well That Ends Well at Friargate Theatre.

Set up in 2001, YSP’s goal is to produce the complete plays of William Shakespeare in York over 20 years. An all-female production of Henry V is planned for Autumn 2015, to be directed by Maggie Smales, who was at the helm of The Stepmother for the York Settlement Community Players.

Before then, Timon Of Athens will be presented as part of the International Shakespeare Festival in York between May 11 and 17 next year, hopefully in in the Ballroom of the De Grey Room.

The committee intends to recruit a skilled director – for a fee of £1,500 – who will be expected to rehearse on two evenings a week and one weekend afternoon for a period of at least eight weeks. They must be available in York whenever required throughout the rehearsal period and the fee includes all travel and subsistence expenses.

Applications should be submitted by December 7 to info@yorkshakespeareproject.org and should include a C.V and the applicant’s vision for the play on one side of A4. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview in York in the week beginning December 15.

Any queries may be directed to this address. An information pack is available to assist in preparing applications.