THE Everyman Theatre at Cheltenham has lined up a stunning array of top shows for the spring.

The programme includes ART, The Blues Brothers, The Pirates of Penzance and The Reduced Shakespeare Company - the Everyman Theatre really does have the best of the West End.

"This is our strongest spring season to date with some of the top London shows visiting Gloucestershire," commented Everyman chief executive Philip Bernays. "We are thrilled that so many big names are coming to the Everyman, we really will be seeing in the New Year with style."

Among the West End shows coming to Cheltenham for the first time ever is ART, the comedy masterpiece which has won Tony, Olivier and Moliere Awards. Starring top actors Simon Shepherd (Peak Practice), Philip Franks (Heartbeat) and Leigh Lawson (Polanski's Tess), this is a must-see for all lovers of top quality drama.

For fans of the West End musicals, spring is also a sensational season, with The Blues Brothers storming into town. The only official musical sanctioned by the John Belushi estate, this smash hit has thrilled over five million people and features hits including Stand By Your Man, Soul Man and Shake A Tall Feather. Also direct from London is the acclaimed Broadway version of Gilbert and Sullivan's popular operetta The Pirates of Penzance, starring two of the country's best-loved entertainers Gary Wilmot and Sue Pollard. This is an hilarious, riotous revamp of the classic to make it a thoroughly modern musical.

The Reduced Shakespeare Company has not only conquered the West End, it has conquered the world. The company, which brought its sensational Complete Works of William Shakespeare to the Everyman last year, return with another offering - The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged). Delivered in its unique style, the lightning tour from Eve to Exodus is a hysterical tribute to the greatest story ever told.

Top British actors Robert Powell and Liza Goddard return with a production of Alan Bennett's acclaimed double-bill, Single Spies, about espionage intrigues in the 1950s. Other dramas include Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island, starring Steve Steen, Rites of Passage, Katherine and The Dodo Diaries.

Audiences will be dancing in the aisles for The Blues Brothers, and there will be even more audience participation with Sing-along-a Abba and Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music.

Classical music lovers are not left out in the cold either. The English Touring Opera will be returning with two popular operas, La Traviata and Don Giovani. ETO has established a reputation for its lavish, quality productions, all sung in English.

Add to the mix the fantastic Spirit Of The Dance, spectacular pop tributes Westside and Britney, a visit from the English National Ballet, as well as the shows already available such as The Ghost Train starring Ian Lavender, Judy Cornwell and Henry McGee, The Last Of Stilgoe and Skeller, Rockin' On Heaven's Door and Barnum on Ice, and spring promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01242 572573.