What's on offer in the region this year

The Octagon, Bolton has already announced its productions for the forthcoming season in the Evening News, so here we take a look at what's on in the pick of the other North West theatres.

One of the highlights at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, is the classic Harold Brighouse play, Hobson's Choice. This will be its first showing at the Royal Exchange.

Trevor Peacock stars as Henry Horatio Hobson -- a man with three daughters, good intentions and a fondness for the Moonraker's Inn. His eldest daughter, Maggie, has a head for business, a will of her own and won't take any nonsense -- especially from her father. When Maggie strikes an unusual partnership with a lowly bootmaker, sparks fly.

The comedy drama runs from May 14 to June 28.

The Exchange's season opens with a surprising alliance. Chekhov's The Seagull and a new play from Brad Fraser, Cold Meat Party, may at first glance appear to be light years apart, but they do share common themes such as grief, friendship and coping with fame and success.

The plays are performed both in repertoire with the same company from February 26 to May 10. The writers may be separated by centuries, but both works share a modern view of human relationships. Both chart the consequences of people failing to connect and what happens when fame and success is lost, found or becomes a burden.

The season ends with a world premiere, Sherlock Holmes in Trouble by Mark Long and Emil Wolk. It runs from July 2 to August 9, and promises to show Holmes and Watson as "you have never seen them before".

Further details about the full season of events on at the Royal Exchange are from the box office on 0161 833 9833.

The Oldham Coliseum's new Spring/Summer 2003 season boasts four major in-house productions -- and all should leave audiences with a smile of their face. The first is April In Paris, a John Godber comedy. Bet and Al lead a quiet, almost hum-drum life in their small Yorkshire home -- until they win a national competition and their world is turned upside down. Their prize is a romantic trip for two to Paris, their first trip abroad. The play runs from March 20 to April 12.

This Godber comedy is followed by The Steamie by Tony Roper. The comedy was a hit when the Coliseum staged its English premiere back in 1988. The production, which runs from April 24 to May 10, offers another chance to spend an evening down the 1950s' Glasgow wash house with Doreen, Margaret, Dolly and Mrs Culfeathers. A Little Local Difficulty follows from May 22 to June 14. It centres on mistaken identity, double dealing and gossip -- and is set in 1860's Oldham. The season ends with the tense comedy thriller, I'll Be Back Before Midnight! This quite chilling thriller runs from June 19 to July 12.

Further details about all the events planned are from the box office on 0161 624 2829.

Favourite blockbusters make their return to the Palace and Opera House theatres in Manchester city centre. Buddy returns to the Opera House from January 14 to 25. Chicago makes another appearance in Manchester, at the Palace from February 18 to March 1. Other favourite musicals making a return include: The Rocky Horror Show at the Opera House from February 24 to March 1; Fame The Musical at the Opera House from March 24 to 29; and Andrew Lloyd Webber's magical Cats which will be staged at the Palace Theatre from March 11 to April 5. Further details from 0161 242 2524.

Manchester's Library Theatre continues its fiftieth birthday celebrations with Bertolt Brecht's Schweyk in the Second World War -- an ironic comedy set in Prague, 1942. The play, which runs from February 7 to March 15, includes some memorable songs. Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together, a sequence of songs from a variety of the writer's best known shows is staged from March 21 to April 5. Further details about the Library Theatre's programme is on 0161 236 7110.

Among the highlights at Blackpool's Grand Theatre are Paul Nicholas in Fiddler on the Roof (February 13 to 22). Further details from 01253 290190.