TEWKESBURY's Roses Theatre has unveiled a host of goodies in their programme for the first quarter of the new year with attractions ranging from Fairport Convention to the Ted Lewis thriller Get Carter which established Michael Caine as a big screen star.

The season opens with Ribston Hall High School's A Moving Experience. This year's performance by over 200 young dancers features an interpretation of J S Bach's Suite No 3 in D Major, a suite of dances based on the Signs of the Zodiac.

The Year 13 students will be dancing in their fourth and final appearance at the theatre as they leave school this year, several of them to pursue careers in dance and the performing arts.

Fairport Convention have been described as the daddies of British folk rock for over 30 years and will open their 2006 tour here on Wednesday February 1 with special guest P J Wright.

The line-up has changed a little over the years and the line-up is now Simon Nicol (vocals and acoustic guitar), Dave Pegg (bass guitar, mandolin and vocals), Ric Sanders (violin), Chris Leslie (mandolin, bouzouki, bouzar, violin and vocals) and Gerry Conway (drums and percussion).

The more cerebral might prefer an evening with Germaine Greer on Saturday, February 4. The feminist icon, controversial author and Celebrity Big Brother star is live on stage to field questions from her audience.

The Classical Brit 2005 Best Young Performer and former BBC Young Musician of the Year at the tender age of 16, cellist Natalie Clein will appear on February 11 with pianist Charles Owen.

Other attractions on the way include Eric Clapton clone Mike Hall presenting Classic Clapton on March 3 and the Red Shift Theatre Company with Get Carter on March 21.

The booking of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, who play on original instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries to bring out the very best of classical music, is regarded as a bit of a coup for the Roses. They appear on Saturday March 25.

Prime Minister Blair and President George Bush are two of the targets for funny man Phil Cool, whose rendition of Jo Brand is a firm favourite. You can catch him (or them) live on March 31 and then the Barron Knights visit on April 8 as part of their farewell tour.