WATCH out for classic theatre, classic wit and classic Ben Elton at local theatres over the next week.

Billy Elliot director Stephen Daldry first directed J B Priestly's An Inspector Calls for the Royal National Theatre a decade ago and in that time 30 casts have played it in more than 400 theatres worldwide. It comes to Malvern's Festival Theatre for one week from Monday, which co-incides with the release of his new film The Hours.

The play is a thriller set on a mysterious night when Inspector Goole calls on a wealthy family, changing their lives with his revelations. It stars RSC actor Nicholas Day, David Roper and Dominic Taylor, among others in a production noted for its 'epic staging, raw emotion and sweeping score'. It runs from May 26-31 (Box office: 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk).

The Gasman Cometh to Chipping Norton on Saturday when the Northern Theatre Company presents an evening of 'the absurdist wit and wickedly subversive humour' of Flanders and Swann. Iain Thompson and Daniel Sprouts perform the review show which earned them five stars at the Edingburgh Festival, reviving favourite tunes like Have Some Madeira M'Dear and The Reluctant Cannibal. Call The Theatre box office on 01608 642350 or visit www.chippingnortontheatre.co.uk.

In Redditch, Ben Elton's comedy Silly Cow opened yesterday and runs until Saturday.

The story is about bitchy and ruthless tabloid entertainment journalist Doris, who seems set to conquer the world of television until she finds herself taking some of her own medicine when the past starts to catch up with her. The Wythall Theatre Company is taking on Elton's tabloid trashing at The Palace Theatre but beware of some bad language - it is not suitable for children. (Box office: 01527 65203/www.redditchbc.gov.uk).