CELEBRATING five years in business The Courtyard Theatre in Hereford is offering a varied programme, from stargazer Patrick Moore to pub landlord Al Murray, in its autumn season.

The new season follows on from the Courtyard's role in Hereford Three Choirs fringe festival, and begins on Thursday, September 4, with a fifth year anniversary production of Guys and Dolls.

This is followed by a new take on Shakespeare's tale of a murderous despot, Richard III - to Hell in a Handbasket, by Third Party theatre company, beginning on Thursday, September 25.

The Dance Company of Wales follows this with its autumn tour Diversions on Tuesday, September 30, which will in turn be followed by American theatre classic Our Town, staged by the Hereford Players opening on Thursday, October 2.

Builder-inspired musical rock show Cheek! appears on Sunday, October 5, followed by Twentieth Century Review starring Virginia McKenna, Derek Waring, Amanda Waring and David Simeon presenting their own whistle-stop tour of the past 100 years on Tuesday, October 7.

Out of Bounds, which takes a look at the effects of apartheid on South African Indians, runs on Wednesday, October 8.

Eighteenth Century music will be brought alive by Fiori Musicali on Thursday, October 9, followed by the world famous Harlem Gospel Choir in a show dedicated to a better understanding of African-American culture on Friday, October 10.

A dramatisation of Anne Frank's Diary is to be presented by the Courtyard from Thursday, October 9, followed by Patrick Moore's latest stop on this 80th birthday tour, called Mars: The Next Frontier, on Sunday October 12.

Next to take the stage are the pulsating bodies and live percussive beats of Ace Dance and Music's latest production En-Trance, on Tuesday, October 14.

Another American theatre classic, Tennessee William's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, takes the stage presented by the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, from Thursday, October 16.

Productions throughout October include an insight into the live and love of Dylan Thomas in the one woman show Caitlin, (Monday, October 20), Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan (beginning Thursday, October 23), a musical comedy review I love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (from Wednesday, October 29).

Al Murray, pub landlord, visits the Courtyard on Wednesday, November 12.

The season is rounded off with this year's panto The Little Mermaid running from Friday, December 5.

All tickets are available from the box office on 01432 359252.