Spring may feel like it is a long way off, but for Milton Keynes Theatre it is just around the corner.

From ballet to pop music, comedy to drama there is certain to be something to appeal to everyone in the exciting Spring season.

Famous names appearing this season include TV stars Neil Pearson, Nigel Havers John Savident and Jeremy Edwards along with Indian superstar Harish Patel, homegrown star in the making Alfie Allen, and theatrical legend Simon Callow.

The new season curtain rises on The Agatha Christie Theatre Company as it makes a welcome return with Christie's own thrilling stage adaptation of the best-selling mystery novel of all time, And Then There Were None (January 28 to February 2). Featuring an all-star cast including Gerald Harper, Jeremy Edwards, Denis Lill, Mark Wynter and Peter Byrne, this dark and captivating tale will thrill and enthral, as murder unfolds.

This is followed by an appearance from one of the country's most versatile and popular actors as John Savident, widely known to TV audiences as Coronation Street's Fred Elliot, brings the cantankerous and obstinate Henry Horatio Hobson to life in the Chichester Festival Theatre production of Hobson's Choice (February 4 to 9).

And while the grown ups enjoy this great classic English comedy, younger audiences can let their imaginations run wild as the big scary Gruffalo comes to town once again (February 6 to 9).

One of the most popular productions ever staged at Milton Keynes makes a glorious return after five years - Matthew Bourne's much-loved and charming interpretation of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (February 12 to 16).

Spend an enchanted evening with Rodgers & Hammerstein's multi-award winning South Pacific (February 19 to 23) starring West End musical sensation Dave Willets and BBC1's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? runner-up Helena Blackman.

From the author of East Is East, Ayub Khan-Din and based on Bill Naughton's All in Good Time, the critically acclaimed and hilarious National Theatre family drama Rafta, Rafta… (February 26 to March 1) is a warm-hearted tale of close-knit Indian family life in England starring Bollywood favourite Harish Patel, recently seen alongside Simon Pegg in Run, Fat Boy, Run.

In the wake of the recent revival of Take That, Never Forget (March 4 to 8) is a brand new musical based on the band's music. Set in Manchester, the show follows the members of the unlikeliest tribute band on a journey full of dreams, ambition and betrayal.

Half A Sixpence comes to Milton Keynes (March 10 to 15) with TV and theatrical star Gary Wilmot in the starring role.

Dangerously thirlling psychological masterpiece Equus will have you on the edge of your steas (March 17 to 22) when it appears for one week only, starring Simon Callow and rising star Alfie Allen.

English Touring Theatre brings its brand new production of Chekov's masterpiece Uncle Vanya to the Milton Keynes Theatre stage (March 26 to 29). Directed by Britain's most distinguished director and founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company Sir Peter Hall, and with a stellar cast including Nicholas le Prevost, Ronald Pickup and Neil Pearson, Uncle Vanya is a passionate, deeply touching and often very funny exploration of love, desire and loss.

Next sees the arrival of three romantic and charming world-class operas as Welsh National Opera presents the dreamlike classic The Magic Flute to Mozart's instantly recognisable score, a beautiful and traditional production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin full of drama and suspense, and Verdi's wonderfully witty Falstaff which has not been performed since 1993 (April 1 to 5).

Passionate and sultry, dark and thrilling - the legendary story of swashbuckling hero Zorro will soon be brought to life on stage by an award-winning creative team in a brand new musical (April 8 to 12).
A gripping tale of good versus evil, full of sword fighting action, adventure, colour and romance, this fast-moving musical is ready to set the stage alight.

Direct from a sell-out run in the West End, Sadler's Wells and Congas Productions present Havana Rakatan (April 17 to 20), a dazzling dance spectacular bringing all the passion and heat of a Cuban summer to Milton Keynes.

Nigel Havers then returns to Milton Keynes Theatre in Alan Bennett's Olivier Award-winning comedy Single Spies (April 28 to May 3) which features two plays, An Englishman Abroad and A Question of Attribution, both of which sparkle with Bennett's trademark wit and which will delight anyone intrigued by espionage and fascinated by forgery.

Finally direct from Sadler's Well's, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan presents the breathtakingly beautiful Moon Water (May 7) an astonishing piece which sees the whole stage flooded with water to create a visual spectacle of stunning reflections.

Other one-night shows in the new season include stand-up from one of Britain's most original comics Omid Djalili, ABBA tribute Bjorn Again on their 19th Anniversary Tour, the return of the extraordinary psychic medium Colin Fry, and the UK's funniest impressionist and star of BBC2's multi-award winning show Dead Ringers John Culshaw.

For more information and a full list of events pick up a new brochure or visit the theatre's website. Bookings can also be made online or by calling 08700 606652.

Related links:
Milton Keynes Theatre