IF Father Christmas failed to bring you the gifts you wanted then it is time to console yourself with the goodies the Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury is set to offer.

This month sees The Circus of Horrors perform 10 Years of Shock n' Roll - described as a "bizarre, fiendishly naughty, hilariously funny, freaky and totally weird show promises to be unforgettable".

Ribston Hall and Tewkesbury School are set to present Dance Showcase and That'll Be The Day, which are guaranteed to raise the roof of the theatre.

Fairport Convention gets February off to a good start while Mary Norton's The Borrowers promises a magical world of discovery, adventure and imagination for children and big kids alike.

Pure unadulterated nostalgia is in store for audiences at A 60s Night Out while Emma Johnson kicks off the Classical Concert Series with a programme that includes Weber, Schumann, Chopin and Poulenc.

Jacqui Dankworth and her Musicians will provide pure jazz and blues and Jack Dee is guaranteed to raise a laugh.

Children will love Spud Pirate and the Pot of Gold and the cast of Vampires Rock - The Musical will blast their way through the greatest rock anthems ever.

An enchanting production of Robert Browning's traditional tale The Pied Piper of Hamelin and Joe Brown and His Bruvvers Hittin the High Spots' tour round up the month.

In March, music lovers are in for a treat with a performance of Gaetano Donizetti's Anna Bolena, and U2UK will pay tribute to the Irish rock legends.

"The world's most popular Phantom" Peter Karrie will perform an arrangement of songs from the musicals while Red Hot Chartbusters are inviting audiences to polish their platforms for a night of 60s and 70s hits.

Nashville Nights & Dixie Days promises to be a non-stop journey through country hits and The Big Chris Barber Band will play a wide selection of music Chris Barber's roots in New Orleans to the soulful blues of Miles Davis.

The Alchemist, based on the cult novel by Paulo Coelho, will be a must for drama lovers, and for audiences young at heart Toad of Toad Hall will be performed by The Roses Youth Theatre.

Children will love puppet show Stone Soup while older audiences should watch out for Faith Brook in The Colour of Poppies - a story of a 75-year-old in love for the first time.

Don Maclean, Dave Sealey, and Malcolm Stent will be providing the laughs in Back to Back, the Roses' stage will become a dancefloor for the Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company's production of Lullaby, and Neil Innes will provide a night of wonderfully strange, satirical and very funny songs interspersed with some Monty Pythonesque comedy.

April sees the voice of Dr Hook, Dennis Locorriere, return with The One of the Lucky Ones Tour, followed by Feast of Fiddles' Sight for Sore Eyes tour.

Transitions Dance Company will offer the very best in all that is new and exciting in contemporary dance, and Johnny Coppin and Mike Silver will show off their soaring harmonies along with a touch of humour.

Tom Poster provides the second in the Classical Concert series with a programme including Beethoven, Chopin and Schubert, and Annie the Musical is guaranteed to get toes tapping.

The Fureys and Davey Arthur will stir audiences with their Irish music and Maresa Von Stockert and Tilted Co. present More Grim(m) Desires - a darkly droll look at five well-known fairy tales.

Limehouse Lizzy will perform a stirring and detailed tribute act to the great Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy while A Night at the Musicals'rounds off the month with all the showstoppers from the West End and Broadway.

For information on show dates, times and prices contact the Roses Theatre box office on 01684 295074 or visit www.rosestheatre.org.

Clapton's career covered

CLASSIC Clapton - the tribute band which has played to sell-out crowds at Huntingdon Hall three times - will be appearing at The Pillar Room at Cheltenham Town Hall on Friday, January 14.

This year marks the band's 20th anniversary - and with Eric Clapton celebrating his 60th birthday in March, the concert will be a double celebration.

Classic Clapton comprises Mike Hall (lead vocals/guitar), drummer Vince Mason and John Forster (bass guitar/backing vocals). Keyboards player Steve Hutchinson joined in 2003.

For six years during the 1990s he was a member of The Animals alongside original members Hilton Valentine and John Steel. Steve has also toured with The Yardbirds.

The whole of Clapton's illustrious career will be covered including The Bluesbreakers, Cream, Derek and The Dominos and the solo years.

There will even be an unplugged segment.

Tickets for the 8pm concert cost £12.50 and are available from the box office on 01242 227979.

Pinafore premiere tested

A WORLD premiere of the Maiden Voyage of Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore will be performed by the Severnside Theatre Ensemble at Saint George's Church in Barbourne on Sunday.

The American academic publishing house of Broude Brothers Ltd has been working on accurate critical editions of all the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas for 30 years.

Bruce Miller, one of the house music editors, was due to welcome several Worcestershire musicians to the US in spring 2004 to take part in his inaugural production of the new material for HMS Pinafore.

But his untimely death in July 2003 meant they were unable to go - so as a tribute the Severnside Theatre Ensemble will be testing the material in a world premiere this weekend.

Tickets for the 7.30pm show - which includes a long-lost number called Reflect, My Child - cost £7 (to include a celebratory glass of wine) and are available from the Huntingdon Hall box office on 01905 611427.