A HOST of big-name stars of international fame will be visiting Malvern Theatres in the New Year.

Jerry Hall, Cherie Lunghi and Gwen Taylor star in Picasso's Women from February 25 to March 2. The production is in fact two plays in one and the audience will have the opportunity to choose between which play they would like to see, or better still, see both plays by taking advantage of a special discounted ticket.

Picasso's Women charts the lives of five women who were deeply affected by the great man.

Popular Monarch of the Glen star Susan Hampshire returns following her last February sell out visit with Relatively Speaking. From January 29 to February 2, she will star in the Theatre Royal Bath production of Noel Coward's Relative Values. In this classic comedy, Susan revives the 1993 West End role which she made her own.

Diana Quick, well known for her part as Julia in Brideshead Revisited, makes a first visit to Malvern Theatres from February 6-9 in the English Touring Theatre's production of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. An exquisite period dress production, Ghosts is directed by Stephen Unwin, recently hailed as "the finest director of Ibsen in Britain."

Kate O'Mara leads the cast of the Bill Kenwright production A Woman of No Importance from February 11-16. This latest Oscar Wilde classic is directed by the world famous director Elijah Moshinsky.

Lovers of opera will be delighted to hear that the Compagnia D'Opera Italiana Di Milano will return with a production of Puccini's Tosca. The Compagnia will be in Malvern from March 6-9.

Tony Benn starts off the lecture series on February 4 and Clive James and Pete Atkin join in "Together at Last Again" on March 15.