THERE must be a few other provincial playhouses that wish they could have some of the magical acts lined-up by Malvern Theatres for its spring programme.

Jerry Hall, Clive James, Tony Benn and Susan Hampshire are a few of the big names booked to appear at the venue.

Add Gwen Taylor, Cherie Lunghi, Leslie Phillips, Kate O'Mara, Paul Young and Hank Marvin, a top Italian opera company and a return of the blockbuster musical Blood Brothers and you can see how much Malvern must be the envy of others.

Probably the most unusual event will be Picasso's Women, from Monday, February 25 to Saturday, March 2.

The work was written by Brian McAvera and stars Cherie Lunghi, Jerry Hall and Gwen Taylor.

The season gets under way with a return of Susan Hampshire, this time in Noel Coward's Relative Values (Tuesday-Saturday, January 29-February 2).

Then there's a visit of the English Touring Theatre with Ibsen's Ghosts (Wednesday-Saturday, February 6-9) starring Diana Quick, followed in swift order by the Bill Kenwright-produced A Woman of No Importance (Monday-Saturday, February 11-16) with Kate O'Mara leading the cast in the Oscar Wilde classic.

The next two are complete contrasts - Compagnia D'Opera Italiana Di Milano with Puccini's Tosca (Wednesday-Saturday, March 6-9) and the new satirical courtroom drama from John Mortimer, Naked Justice (Monday-Saturday, March 18-23) starring Leslie Phillips.

The riotous city comedy A Chaste Maid in Cheapside runs from Monday-Saturday, March 25-30, followed immediately by the musical Blood Brothers (Monday-Saturday, April 1-6).

There are also a wide variety of "one- nighters" including Tony Benn (Monday, February 4), Clive James and Pete Atkin (Friday, March 15), and Worcester's own Richard Swerrun (Friday, February 8).