EXETER's Northcott Theatre has announced details of its new Autumn / Winter season — the third season for the professional theatre-producing venue since it reopened last Christmas following a £2.1 million refit.

 The huge range of performing arts events contained in the coming season — including drama, contemporary dance, opera, pantomime, music, comedy, community and amateur performances — demonstrates how Exeter Northcott caters for its loyal core patrons and also seeks new audiences.

The season opener is a new adaptation by Mark Healy of Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd, co-produced by English Touring Theatre and Exeter Northcott and starring Stephen Billington (Greg Kelly in Coronation Street).

Among new visitors to Exeter Northcott is one of the Arts Councils newest RFO's, Freedom Studios, with Happy & Married, directed by Madani Younis, and also Lifeblood Theatre Company (with Shakespeare's Globe) with Glyn Maxwell's Liberty; the Jasmin Vardimon dance company, and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra.

Established companies returning this season include English Touring Opera, Richard Alston Dance Company and Pilot Theatre with its award-winning adaptation of William Golding's Lord of the Flies.

Exeter Northcott Theatre Company will once again produce an in-house pantomime, The Sleeping Beauty, written and directed by artistic director Ben Crocker .

 For more information call the box office on 01392 493493.