HARMONY between an Oxford college and its neighbour was strained when loud music drowned out an outdoor production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.

An audience in Wadham College gardens was appalled when rock music from Rhodes House struck up as they waited for the Shakespeare comedy to begin.

Efforts were made to get the music turned down as revellers in Rhodes House gardens began to party.

But the Oxford Shakespeare Company was ultimately forced to abandon the performance last Thursday and offer refunds to almost 200 people.

The company says it may seek compensation as it emerged that its production of Shakespeare's fiery romantic comedy fell victim to a misunderstanding.

Rhodes House claimed it had alerted Wadham in June that its grounds were to be used by a London firm for an outdoor music festival.

But the actors only realised something had gone badly wrong when a disco struck up on the other side of the college garden wall.

OSC stage manager, Julia Redican, said: "Staff from the college immediately went to request the music was turned down. The volume went down. But then just before we were about to start, a band came on. It was not just the thudding of the bass. You could hear every word being sung.

"It was very upsetting that an outdoor production of Shakespeare had to be cancelled because of a small barbecue."

The Registrar of Rhodes House, Mary Eaton, said Wadham had been informed about the event weeks before, with the grounds let out for a private function. She said: "We had a client booked and wrote to the domestic bursar at Wadham. They had the information. Perhaps they did not think about the noise element."