LOCAL theatregoers have a host of goodies to look forward in the coming summer months at the county’s leading theatre.

Following on from this month’s five day runs of The Picture of Dorian Gray and Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of the Four there are several thrillers and comedies, award winning plays and a good selection of musicals, as well as opera and ballet, heading for Malvern’s Festival Theatre.

Just for good measure one of the theatre-world’s iconic productions, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, will also be on the local stage in July.

This is the world’s longest running whodunnit which has been playing in London’s West End since 1952.

There’s also a rich diet of one night shows from a variety of tribute bands playing - amongst others - the music of Queen, Abba, T-Rex and George Michael.

There’s also plenty to look forward to when winter begins to approach including the classic and ever-popular musical Cabaret.

The prestigious Birmingham Royal Ballet will be in residence later this month when they present Peter and the Wolf on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 21 and 22. This will provide a new take in a modern setting on Sergei Prokofiev’s classic.

Also arriving for a short run this month will by the Olivier Award-Winning comedy Rotterdam from May 23 to 25, which takes a peek at gender, sexuality and being a long way from home.

Then in June it’s off in a different direction with Anthony Horowitz’s thriller, Mindgame, This is at the Festival from June 4 to 8. Also arriving in the county will be a bold, new comedy -  Admissions, which was winner of Best New Play. This opens in Malvern on June 10 for a one week run to the 15th.

Musicals then take centre-stage with Thriller, featuring songs of Michael and the Jackson 5. It comes direct from the West End for a week from June 24 to 29, and this is followed by the 30th anniversary tour of Fame, from July 8 to 13.

Also on stage locally in July will be The Mousetrap from July 15 to 20 and then the wonderfully outrageous Rocky Horror Show from July 22 to 27.

Also coming up later in the year is Amelie, the Musical, starring Audrey Brisson, Stephen Tomkinson in the excellent Educating Rita and Shane Richie in The Entertainer.

As for one night musical shows there’s The Summer of Love on May 24 featuring the music of The Mamas and Papas, Janis Joplin, The Doors and others, a new show celebrating the music of Tina Turner, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, on June 13; The Barricade Boys, with songs from the hit musical Les Miserables; then on June 20 it’s Islands in the Stream and the songs of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers; Hello Again, the story of Neil Diamond on June 27.

And if you want to hear some traditional folk music then the perfect offering should be provided by The Wild Murphys on June 21 with One Night in Dublin.