THE new season at Malvern Theatres kicks off with two costume dramas.

Henry James's classic story of unrequited love, Daisy Miller (August 30-September 3) and Bernard Shaw's comic tour-de-force, You Never Can Tell, set the tone.

Maureen Lipman stars in Glorious! (September 26-October 1) where she takes the role of Florence Foster Jenkins, the enthusiastic soprano who couldn't hit a note with a sledgehammer.

Continuing the laughter from November 7-12, Stephanie Cole and George Baker star in The Rivals.

Set in Bath during the course of one day in 1775, this elegantly costumed period romp introduces Mrs Malaprop, one of the funniest characters in British theatre.

Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing takes a polished look at love and infidelity (November 28-December 3), starring Tom Conti.

Anita Dobson appears as Gertrude in English Touring Theatre's new production of Hamlet (Oct 11-15) and Timothy West stars as a bomb disposal expert who is facing the reality of retirement when news of a terrorist attack catapults him back into the limelight.

Nichola McAuliffe stars alongside him in National Hero (September 12-17).

The genius and romance of Daphne's Du Maurier's thriller Rebecca is brought to the stage in a new adaptation starring Nigel Havers as Maxim De Winter (October 24-29), while fellow heartthrob Martin Shaw takes the lead in Robert Bolt's A Man For All Seasons (October 31-November 5), based on the story of Henry VIII and his wives.

Opera lovers will be enthused to hear that Carl Rosa Opera Company will present The Mikado (October 3-8), while later in the month the acclaimed Compagnia d'Opera Italiano di Milano will present Rigoletto in the Forum Theatre (October 28-31).

Cutting edge dance is on the menu, served up by Motionhouse (October 4), Richard Alston Dance Company (November 3-4) and ACE Dance and Music (November 16).

There is plenty for music-lovers in the form of the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers (October 25), Shakin' Stevens (November 24), The Hollies (September 30) and The Searchers (December 17).

There's also a swarm of good comedy and theatre for children.

Call for a brochure on 01684 892277.