IT'S still the panto season at Chipping Norton theatre, but eyes and minds are now fully tuned to an exciting programme of productions and performances for the spring season.

Beauty and the Beast will complete its run on Saturday and then it's less than a week until the first new shows of the New Year.

Music, drama, comedy and a range of films, from little-known acts and new writings to classic stories and old Chippy hands, all feature in the programme.

Theatre director Tamara Malcolm stresses the variety on offer and said: "A spring season that promises films such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Iranian masterpiece, A Time for Drunken Horses, again reflects the multi-layered and wide interests of our audience.

"New and adventurous writing always needs the loudest fanfare or why else should you put your hat and coat on for a night out?"

Among the highlights she picks out is the Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company's production of David Holman's Tractor Girls about the hilarious adventures of two female Ipswich Town football fans following their team into Europe.

"This is the funniest and most entertaining script I have read this year," says Tamara.

From the Company Gavin Robertson, which brought you Thunderbirds F.A.B., comes Spittoon - a Western combining film, clichs and cartoons in a night of rollercoaster hilarity.

Somewhat less madcap is Samuel West's play Violet, starring David Mallison and Anna Chancellor, which tells the scandalous story of the harpsichord genius Violet Gordon Woodhouse.

The ever-popular Red Shift Theatre Company brings Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby to the stage next month, while another of Britain's top touring companies, SNAP, presents a stage adaptation of Hanif Kureishi's film, My Beautiful Launderette.

There is more classic drama in The Caretaker, Harold Pinter's story of a tramp taken in by two brothers is brought to Chippy by the Torch Theatre Company.

Music is never far away at the theatre and this season includes performances by Buddy Holly and the Cricketers, two nights with Chippy regulars The Bochmann Quartet and great jazz from Jacqui Dankworth, the daughter of Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, and her five-piece band, Field of Blue.

Those entranced by Captain Correlli's Mandolin will have a chance to hear from the author himself when Louis de Bernieres hosts an evening of Spanish music and poetry with guitarist Craig Ogden.

More unusual drama comes in the shape of Rapunzel from The Puppet Lab, formerly the renowned Edinburgh Puppet Company, and Dario Fo's one-man comedy show, Mistero Buffo.

There is also a full programme of 15 films and art exhibitions in The Gallery.

The year starts with Carry On Gilbert and Sullivan by Opera Anywhere, a comedy look at the making of a new Gilbert and Sullivan production by the Oily Ph'art Opera Company. The show is on at 8pm on January 18 and 19.

Tickets for all shows can be booked through the Chipping Norton box office on 01608 642350.