FOLLOWING sell-out seasons in the West End, Moira Buffini's wicked comedy Dinner comes to Malvern Theatres on Monday as part of a national tour.

Paige, hostess extraordinaire, has invited an artist, a scientist and a sexpot to celebrate the publication of her husband's best seller.

The arrival of Mike, marooned in a foggy lane having crashed his van, provides an unexpected addition to the evening's entertainment. A silent waiter, sourced from an obscure website, completes the picture.

The cast of seven is led by the international star of stage and screen, Stephanie Beacham (pictured).

Best known for her character Sable in the 80s hit soaps, Dynasty and The Colbys, the actress can currently be seen on TV playing Phylida in ITV's Bad Girls.

Since co-presenting C4's Big Breakfast, Gaby Roslin has made her West End debut in the hit musical Chicago and has become a mainstay of BBC's Children in Need.

Louise Jameson is possibly most well known for her role as the popular series, Bergerac.

Her last appearance at Malvern was in The Ghost Train in 2002.

Patrick Ryecart's numerous film and television credits include A Bridge Too Far and on television in The High Life. He last performed in Malvern in An Ideal Husband in 2001.

Dinner runs in the Festival Theatre, Malvern from June 28 to July 3. Tickets are £12-£18, available on 01684 892277.

Poets take pride of place at top festival

DISTINCTIVELY droll radio personality Pam Ayres is due to kick-start the ever-popular Ledbury Poetry Festival next Friday.

The 2004 event, which runs until Sunday, June 11, promises to be more impressive and diverse than ever before, with poets from all over the world, especially America, and home-grown talent pouring into the tiny town to perform.

Classical pianist Alfred Brendel will be returning to Ledbury to read from his new book, while Roger McGough will round up the celebration of verse on the final day.

Festival director Dr Charles Bennett said their poet in residence American poet Mark Doty would be running workshops for aspiring writers as well as reading his own work.

We also have poets from Venezuela, Spain, Trinidad and the high point of the Festival will be a pairing of Palestinian and Israeli poets on stage in the name of peace," he said.

This just goes to show what poetry can achieve.