THE life and work of one of England's most romantic poets will be celebrated in a new show.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Victorian Poet and Enigma was written by David Robertson of West Malvern and will being premiered next month.

Mr Robertson created The Magic Ear, an exhibition about Malvern's connection with the development of radar.

Now he has devised a celebration in words, music and images of the poet who grew up at Hope End, between Colwall and Ledbury.

The show is at the John Moore Theatre, King's School Worcester, on Saturday, March 4 - two days before the poet's birthday - at 7.30pm.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most popular poets of her era, whose sonnet How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways, which she wrote in secret for her husband Robert Browning, is one of the most poignant in the language.

When Wordsworth died in 1850, many though she would become Poet Laureate, although the job eventually went to Tennyson.

Today, the couple are probably best known for their elopement and secret marriage, dramatised in film The Barretts of Wimpole Street. But she grew up at her father's Moorish folly at Hope End, knew Malvern, Worcester and Hereford, spent three years in a clinic in Gloucester and often visited Eastnor Castle.

"We tend to think of her as a sickly child and semi-invalid adult who, for much of her life, rarely left her bedroom," said David. "But while she lived near Ledbury, she loved walking and riding, and even had her own pony."

The life and legacy of this extraordinary woman will be celebrated in an evening of readings, projected images and settings of her work by composers including Elgar and William Lloyd Webber, father of Andrew and Julian.

David is also directing the show, which will be performed by Ben Humphrey, Catharine Robertson and cellist Heather Uren. Tickets are £6 adults, £4 children on 01905 721794.