Fast and furious you may be planning your social events for the next two weeks, but for some welcome respite look ahead to the whole new season of fun to be gleaned from our local theatre.

Comedy

The biggest names in comedy are lining up to perform at The Courtyard's Edgar Street venue. The star of Channel 4's Black Books Dylan Moran is the big-name draw with his hilarious new stand-up show on February 24.

Richard Herring of BBC2's Lee and Herring fame will be 'Talking Cock' on March 17 and the got-to-be-seen-to-be-believed origami magician Ennio Marchetto takes the main stage on February 25.

Theatre

In addition to a strong comedy hand, augmented by the monthly comedy nights, a top rate theatre schedule underpins the season.

The Courtyard Youth Theatre's production of 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' is the perfect Easter treat for both the young and the young at heart. Played by members of the cast live on stage, the score will be specially composed by the venue's musical director Rab Handleigh.

Middle Ground perform their atmospheric and moving stage adaptation of Noel Coward's 'Brief Encounter' from February 3-5; the stunning Foursight Theatre presents the family favourite 'The Snow Queen' on February 7 and Snap Theatre Company brings a chilling stage version of Anthony Burgess's 'A Clockwork Orange' to the main stage on March 1.

David Benson's critically acclaimed Kenneth Williams tribute 'Think No Evil Of Us' should excite audiences on January 25 and Eleanor Bron, Sally Bradshaw and Michael Haslam explore the moods of the English in the grip of tender passion in a sparkling evening of theatre and music on February 2. With its nudity, sexual content and strong language, David Hare's 'The Blue Room' will be no joking matter on April 1.

Music

Music-lovers have a fantastic four months to look forward to. Local lad Tom Rees-Roberts brings his jazz quartet to the main house on January 18, Isla St Clair dons her folk-singing hat and celebrates Burns Night on January 24 and Maire Ni Cathasaigh and Chris Newman perform their blend of Celtic, bluegrass and baroque on February 26.

Finbar Furey will perform a breathtaking set of Irish reels and jigs on March 28 and Batanai Marimba will doubtless receive a warm welcome back from Hereford audiences on April 17.

Also performing are The Syd Lawrence Orchestra (January 17), Ga Ga The Ultimate Tribute to Queen (March 16), Karen Noble as Dusty Springfield (March 26) and Blues Brothers tribute Soul, Rhythm and Blues Revue (April 15-16).

The Orchestra of the Swan visits on January 23 and April 3 with two very different concerts - the first featuring Jeong-Won Kim on the piano and the second being a family performance of The Carnival of the Animals and Peter and the Wolf.

A highlight of the season prom-ises to be Pegasus Opera Company performing Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore' on April 11 and 12 - opera always sells out so early booking is

advised.

Six in-house shows form the basis of another ambitious year for this vibrant centre for the arts. An autumn highlight will undoubtedly be 'A Chorus Line', rarely professionally produced in the UK due to sought after rights.

In-house action

The Courtyard Senior Youth Theatre brings hard-hitting drama with 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' in July and The Courtyard Community Company gets an opportunity to flex its theatrical muscle with an adaptation of 'The Diary of Anne Frank' in October, to coincide with a major touring exhibition co-ordinated by The Anne Frank Trust.

The Courtyard Youth Theatre tackles 'The Rise And Fall of Little Voice' in June and the year is rounded off by the pantomime A Little Mermaid, written by local writer Lyndsay Maples.

What more could Hereford ask?

l Bookings for spring are being taken now on 01432 359252.