THERE is a great new season of drama, comedy and music at Malvern Theatres in the New Year.

The Spring Season has everything from classic adaptations like Cranford to Alan Ayckbourn’s latest comedy, The Life of Riley with TV favourite Liza Goddard.

Everyone’s favourite politician Jim Hacker is back in a new stage version of the hit TV comedy Yes, Prime Minister and there is an epic stage adaptation of Dicken’s novel Great Expectations.

For children there is a stage adaptation of Goodnight Mister Tom, the much-loved and moving story of Willie the evacuee by Michelle Magorian.

The season opens with a rip-roaring musical, The Blues Brothers, Party, which runs from February 1-5. It features all the classic R&B hits made famous by Dan Ayckroyd and John Belushi in the famous Blues Brothers movie, including Mustang Sally, Everybody Needs Somebody to Love and Soul Man.

The Chinese Stae Circus will bring their latest acrobatic live spectacular to the Malvern stage on February 21 and 22. Mulan is a fusion of precision acrobatics, Shaolin martial arts, dazzling circus skills and colourful characters from Peking Opera. This is family entertainment with stunning displays of daring physical skill that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

There will be a production of Journey’s End, the classic story from WWI by R C Sherriff from February 9-19 and Alan Ayckbourn’s Life of Riley opens on March 8. It is a play about George Riley, an eccentric who doesn’t have long to live. As friends remember him with nostalgia, love and sometimes fury he is plotting a final farewell that threatens to upset all their lives in the future.

The stage version of Yes Prime Minister is in Malvern for one week only from April 4-9. It is on tour following a sell-out season at the Chichester Festival and a successful run in the West End.

It has been written by Antony jay and Jonathan Lynnn, the writers behind the successful TV series, and the audience can expect to find PM Jim Hacker embroiled in a world of spin, Blackberrys and ‘sexed up’ dossiers.

There is also cabaret from Kit and the Widow and Dillie Keane in Cowardy Custard (April 13-16) and a play called Busybody about a meddlesome office cleaner who discovers a dead body. This intriguing murder mystery is at the theatre from April 19-23.

In The Forum Malvern Theatres continues to offer a diverse range of entertainment from a live broadcast of Caligula from the Paris Opera Ballet to modern dance from Henri Oguike Dance.

Popular comedian Lenny Henry is in Malvern on April 2 with his new show Cradle to Rave and there is music from The Dubliners, the Grimethorpe Colliery band and Mary Wilson of The Supremes.

For full details of all productions and concerts at the theatre visit the theatres website at www.malvern-theatres.co.uk or call the theatre for more information on 01684 892277.