AUDIENCES will not have to travel far to experience great drama this year.

Bolton's thriving amateur dramatic scene is gearing up for 12 months of shows boasting thrillers, comedy, musicals and more.

St Paul's AODS open with comedy Fish out of Water on August 24, which is being staged in a new venue at St Paul's School.

Chairman Steve Brennan said: "We are excited to be the first play out of the season.

"There is so much variety every season, we are all looking forward to it."

In September St Paul's Players in Adlington will be bringing the much anticipated production of Vicar of Dibley to a local stage for the first time - after securing the rights from writer Richard Curtis.

That same month will see the likes of Bolton Little Theatre and Farnworth Little Theatre premiere first shows of the season.

Bolton's chairman David Smart is particularly pleased with the coming year’s offerings which include stories of the Pitman Painters and a retelling of the famous 1985 film Agnes of God.

He said: "Dead Guilty, which we kick off with in September, is one of those plays that will have audiences on the edge of their seat."

Neighbouring Farnworth presents an equally entertaining season with Neil Simon’s comedy Plaza Suite in September – with three different stories set in the same hotel room.

Chairman Lesley Norris added: "I think we’ve got a pretty good mix this year.

"After Plaza Suite we’ve got the hilarious Dick Barton – Special Agent, a homage to the 1940s radio show."

Other highlights include Arthur Miller's towering drama View from the Bridge in March.

The Marco Players mix stories with postcard humour and the Salem witch trials before ending the season with a first for the cast.

Chairman Jason Crompton explains: "We’re ending the season in a rather unique way with a Sketch Show featuring the best of British comedy from across the decades.

"We’ve never done anything like this, but having asked our audience – as well as our members – what they’d like included we’re confident it’ll be a show to remember."

In the mix with plays is a programme of great music a musical adaption from Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream and Cole Porter's classic Kiss Me Kate by Walmsley Church AODS in October to New Rosemere's Pirates of Penzance and the grizzly Sweeney Todd by Adlington Music and Arts Society next year.

Also look out for plenty of Christmas time action with a concert by The Brixi Singers, Victoria Hall ADS playing Babes in the Woods and classics including Aladdin, Cinderella and Snow White.