An early Christmas present has arrived for fans of music, theatre, comedy and dance, as The Courtyard reveals what's on offer at the arts centre from January to April next year.

The highlight of the season in will be the week long run of The Original Theatre Company’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest (5-10 Feb) in February. The UK tour will star Gwen Taylor (Duty Free and Barbara) as Lady Bracknell and Susan Penhaligon (Upstairs Downstairs and Bergerac) as Miss Prism in a wonderfully witty, deliciously decadent and classic revival of the Oscar Wilde Classic.

The Studio Theatre will also play host to a selection of drama productions this season including Clown in The Moon (Fri 2 Feb), a dramatic portrait of Dylan Thomas's chaotic, frequently hilarious and all-too-brief life, and on Wednesday, March 28 the company that brought The Six-Sided Man to the Courtyard, presents Mata Hari, the story of the most notorious female spy in history ... or was she?

The spring also brings a host of famous faces to grace the stage at The Courtyard. Griff Rhys Jones appears in March to share stories, anecdotes, reminiscences and ‘outright lies’ whilst historian Lucy Worsley visits Hereford on Tuesday, April 17 to accompany the launch of her new biography of Jane Austen. Fresh from the television studio and offering VIP packages for fans to meet and greet will be Strictly Come Dancing favourite Giovanni Pernice on Monday, April 16 and, in January, Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace will be in town to share his culinary expertise and behind the scenes tales.

Folk fans can look forward to performances from Mawkin, Horizon Award Winers Sam Kelly and The Lost Boysm Trio Dhoore and The legendary Fureys.

And anyone who caught the earlier May-We-Go-Round from The Hiccup Project will be delighted to learn that the girls are on their way back with It's OK I'm Dealing With It, in which Cristina and Chess explore in their inimitably energetic mix of dance, drama and humour, just how we deal with difficult things.

For families this season there is also lots on offer including a lively and tuneful rendition by the London Mozart Players of Little Red Riding Hood on Friday, April 13, and Sarah and Duck of the BAFTA award-winning CBeebies show will also visit The Courtyard during the Easter holidays.

To book tickets, or for more information contact the Box Office on 01432 340555 or visit www.courtyard.org.uk.