CHARLES HUTCHINSON looks at York Theatre Royal's summer package, which will lead to a new repertory season in the autumn.

YORK Opera opens York Theatre Royal's summer season with Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer, the one with the love potion. This comic tale of Alexis's attempt to create a Utopia of classless love with the aid of an elixir runs from July 10 to 14, following on from such past York Opera productions at the Theatre Royal as Turandot, Iolanthe and Peter Grimes.

The Millennium Dome may be RIP but one of last year's attractions at the Greenwich white elephant, the aerial acrobats of the Generating Company, will be flying across the Theatre Royal stage on July 20 and 21 in Storm.

This new performance troupe will be demonstrating circus skills and throwing itself into feats of aerial daring in a story about the emotional highs and lows of a group of city dwellers over a 24-hour time span. The musical score by Akintayo Akinbode borrows from sources as diverse as electronic pioneers Kraftwerk and salsa, and the show's designs are by rock show designer Mark Fisher whose clients include Tina Turner, Janet Jackson and U2.

The four performances in York will be the only northern shows on the national tour itinerary for this innovative show.

As with the summer season, the Theatre Royal's repertory autumn programme will be complemented by touring shows, such as the South African Gospel Singers on November 18. This soulful choir, with its 14 vocalists and musicians, has performed at the Nelson Mandela tribute concert at Wembley, appeared on the Cry Freedom film soundtrack and given concerts at the Royal Festival Hall.

English Touring Opera returns to present Massanet's Manon on November 23 and a new production of Verdi's La Traviata on November 24. Manon, the tale of an enigmatic heroine, will be staged in lavish 19th century costumes and, as with La Traviata, it will be sung in English and accompanied by ETO's orchestra.

Lip Service, the satirical duo featuring York actress Maggie Fox, veer into new territory with their version of Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest. From November 27 to December 1, they are joined by three "talented but possibly foolhardy" actors as they take on this classic comedy of society manners.

As previewed in last night's Evening Press, the autumn shows will be run in repertoire, rather than one after the other, to provide greater choice each week.

In the main auditorium, William Shakespeare's romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream will be staged on various dates between September 14 and November 17; Christopher Hampton's steamily intriguing Les Liaisons Dangereuses between October 6 and November 16, and David Hare's slice of erotica, The Blue Room, between October 10 and November 15.

In The Studio, the trio sharing the spotlight will be John Godber's Happy Jack, September 5 to November 2; Arthur Smith's Live Bed Show, September 12 to November 3, and Enda Walsh's Disco Pigs, September 19 to November 1.

Commenting on the new format, artistic director Damian Cruden says: "The forthcoming season marks a radical departure from the theatre's traditional repertoire of work. Our aim has always been to present as broad a range of work as possible but this has always been difficult in a single large space, however beautiful.

"The addition for the first time of a studio space in the old paint shop allows us to present small-scale work, both traditional and contemporary in its nature, in an appropriately intimate setting.

"Presenting shows in both spaces on a nightly turnaround rather than three-weekly runs will allow the audience to see a different show each night of the week. What greater choice could people ask for?"

He believes the repertory cast members will benefit too. "This new venture should allow the artists the opportunity to develop their performances over a longer period, while giving them the time to engage more broadly with the community of York through workshops, open days, new play readings, Saturday morning Kidstory sessions and work with local students of theatre," says Damian.

"We're proud to offer this autumn programme through the industry and ingenuity of the staff and artists of the Theatre Royal. Without them none of this would be possible."

Tickets for The Sorcerer are on sale already on 01904 623568; tickets for all the other shows go on sale on June 1.