COMEDIAN Jack Dee is just one of the top acts booked in to an exciting spring schedule for audiences at The Roses theatre in Tewkesbury.

The deadpan comedian who has just enjoyed a successful TV series of Jack Dee Live at the Apollo is returning to Tewkesbury after three years with his new show on February 15. Tickets are going fast, says the theatre.

The new season begins with the bizarre on January 24, however, with the Circus of Horrors and its 10 Years of Shock 'n' Roll show, which boasts a pickled woman, voodoo acrobats, and vampires suspended by their hair, among other curiosities shown off by Doktor Haze and his 'devil-driven' rock 'n' roll band.

Other, more conventional musical evenings, include That'll Be The Day (January 30-31), a 60s Night Out (February 11), Vampires Rock - The Musical (February 19), show singer Peter Karrie and Friends (March 4), Red Hot Chartbusters (March 11), Nashville Nights and Dixie Days (March 12), Annie - The Musical (April 19-21) and A Night at the Musicals (April 30).

Bands and solo performers lined up include Fairport Convention (February 2), Jacqui Dankworth & her Musicians (February 13), Joe Brown & His Bruvvers (February 27), U2UK (March 5), The Big Chris Barber Band (March 13), Dr Hook singer Dennis Locorriere (April 2), Johnny Coppin and Mike Silver (April 15), The Fureys and Davey Arthur (April 24) and Limehouse Lizzy (April 29).

Classical fans will enjoy a classical concert series featuring renowned clarinettist Emma Johnson on February 12, BBC Young musician of the Year Tom Poster on April 16 and the Bronte String Quartet on June 11.

Opera School Wales is presenting Anna Bolena by Gaetano Donizetti on March 1.

Dance enthusiasts will also have a busy spring, turning out for Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company's Lullaby on March 9, the Transitions Dance Company on April 13 and Maresa Von Stockert and Tilted Company's More Grim(m) Desires on April 27.

There's a good mix of theatre for all ages, too, with The Borrowers (February 3-5), Spud Pirate and The Pot of Gold (February 17), The Pied Piper of Hamelin (February 24-26), The Colour of Poppies (March 2), Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist (March 16), Toad of Toad Hall (March 19-20) and Stone Soup (March 31). Hull Truck Theatre Company's Kissing Married Women and C S Lewis's The Screwtape Letters are also scheduled for May.

On the miscellaneous list is also Back to Back (March 3) - a night of reminiscence with Don Maclean, Dave Sealey, and Malcolm Stent - an evening with Neil Innes on March 10 and the Feast of Fiddles Sight for Sore Eyes tour on April 10, which features seven of the very best fiddlers from the folk rock scene with a supergroup backing band.

Contact the box office for further details of the acts or to book tickets for the events. Call 01684 295074.