CHRISTMAS and the new year celebrations are now behind us b ut there is still plenty of excitment in the offing at the many theatres around the regions - here in Bromsgrove and Droitwich, or further afield ar Redditch, Kidderminster, Worcester and Birmingham.

And there's also plenty to consider at Malvern where they have recently announced the best of drama, dance, comedy and music for the coming months.

The season gets off to a fantastic start as Willy Russell's breathtaking musical, Blood Brothers returns to Malvern after previous sell-out visits.

Heading the season's impressive dramas will be Ian Richardson in The Creeper, prior to the West End, from January 30. In The Creeper a young opportunist finds his way into the home of a prosperous, if eccentric member of the landed gentry with fascinating results.

A collision of wills is explored from February 14 when Tunes of Glory can be seen starring Patrick Ryecart and Stuart McGugan, while ground-breaking theatre company, Shared Experience bring their adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel, Jane Eyre to the Festival Theatre stage from February 21.

Timothy West stars as a British spy in exile in Alan Bennett's play, The Old Country from February 28.

For comedy lovers there's loads to keep you laughing including two Noel Coward plays - Private Lives starring Belinda Lang and Julian Wadham from February 6 and then in March Present Laughter starring Simon Callow.

Philip King's classic wartime comedy, See How They Run plays from April 3 and is guaranteed to have you laughing helplessly in the aisles. It's one of the funniest comedies ever written.

Direct from its West End sell-out season, Losing Louis starring Alison Steadman and David Horovitch can be seen from April 24. Hilariously funny it looks at a moment of ghastly social embarrassment for two brothers and their wives with side-splitting results.

All Creatures Great and Small actor, Christopher Timothy stars in The Safari Party which is written by Ayckbourn protg Tim Firth from May 15 and will make for another hilarious night of theatre.