FROM a bizarre circus to classical music, comedy and drama, the new season at the Roses Theatre promises exciting new performances as well as old favourites.

Highlights of the spring season include stand-up comedy from Jack Dee on Tuesday, February 15, for which tickets are £20, and fiendish spectacle, the Circus of Horrors, which visits the theatre on Monday, January 24.

Sword swallowers, vampires, voodoo acrobats and a pickled woman in a bottle are all on the circus's bill and tickets are £15 (students £10).

The tiny world of children's favourites The Borrowers plays from Thursday to Saturday February 3-5. Tickets are £7.50 (concs £6.50, schools £5).

Tewkesbury Amateur Dramatic Society performs the Pied Piper of Hamelin from Thursday to Saturday, February 24-26, tickets are £8 (concs £6).

Faith Brook stars in The Colour of Poppies, the tale of a 75-year-old who falls in love, on Wednesday, March 2. Tickets are £10 (concs £9).

The Alchemist, based on Brazilian author Paulo Coelho's cult novel, brings the tale of an Andalusian shepherd boy's quest for his dream to the Roses stage on Wednesday, March 16. Tickets are £10 (concs £9).

Music lovers can hear folk rockers Fairport Convention perform on Wednesday, February 2, tickets are £15.50. Saturday, February 12, brings a visit from clarinettist Emma Johnson, who will perform with concert pianist and composer John Lenehan, and tickets are £13 (concs £12, under 16s £8).

Other musical highlights include U2UK, who pay tribute to the Irish rockers on Saturday, March 5, country sounds from Nashville Nights and Dixie Days on Saturday, March 12, and violinists Feast of Fiddles, who play on Sunday, April 10.

Dennis Locorriere, the voice of Dr Hook, comes to The Roses on Saturday, April 2, and tickets are £15.

Dance performances include Lullaby from the Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company on Wednesday, March 9, and the Transitions Dance Company on Wednesday, April 13.

To book or for a full brochure, call the box office on 01684 295074 or visit www.rosestheatre.org.