From Shakespeare to musical nights, Joseph Rowntree Theatre is looking forward to a packed new season, reports Charles Hutchinson

THE inaugural production of the York Shakespeare Project's ambitious plans to stage all 37 plays in the city forms the centrepiece of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre autumn and winter season. The project was forced to postpone its debut show, planned for the Grand Opera House in April, after the shock departure of director Ben Naylor and production manager Anthony Bryce.

However, the community project has bounced back with the appointment of director John White (aka professional actor Richard Conway), and so Richard III will be staged at the Rowntree Theatre, with live musical accompaniment, from October 30 to November 2 at 7.30pm nightly plus 2.30pm on the last day. For tickets, ring 01904 621756 or 01904 644194 or pay on the door.

The Rowntree season opens on Sunday with a Music Night concert, for which Arnold Durham's regular troupe is joined for the first time by the ubiquitous Robert Readman and Sarah Barker. A second Music Night follows on December 15; tickets are available from Eleanor Dove on 01904 422545.

Shipton Theatre Club has changed its name to Shipton Theatre Company in time for its 30th anniversary show, Annie Get Your Gun. Director Robert Readman, yes him again, will be pulling the strings in the first amateur production of Irving Berlin's musical in York for the best part of 20 years.

Performance dates are September 17 to 21; tickets from, York Theatre Royal, 01904 623568, and Lorraine Hodgeson, 01904 481855.

Rowntree Players' autumn selection is Harold Brighouse's fine old Lancashire social comedy Hobson's Choice, booked in for October 3 to 5. Tickets: from Theatre Royal, 01904 623568; members; on the door.

Free streamers, flags and balloons will be handed out for the Army Benevolent Fund's Last Night Of The Proms concert with the Normandy Band of the Queen's Division on October 10. Tickets: 01904 623568.

The Andrea Ferrebee Dance School presents Showtime 2002 on October 18 and 19 (tickets 01904 623568); the New Horizons Association's Show, in aid of retired priests, is on October 25; and York Opera performs a concert of highlights from Showboat, The Merry Widow and other operettas on October 26 (tickets 01904 623568).

New Earswick marks its name change from Operatic Society to Musical Society by appropriately performing a musical rather than an opera this autumn: Cole Porter's Broadway romp Kiss Me Kate, from November 12 to 16. For tickets, ring 01904 623568 or Stella Waft on 01904 768182.

One of the Rowntree Theatre's annual highlights, the York Scout and Guide Gang Show 2002, runs from November 26 to 30 at 7.15pm nightly, complemented by 2pm Saturday matinee, with tickets available only from Don Saxton on 01904 632750.

Come December, come the promise of "Christmas Starts Here", in Shipton Theatre Company's second show of the season: a concert of songs from The Full Monty, The Wiz, The Witches Of Eastwick, Honk!, The Rocky Horror Show and more besides on December 1 at 5pm and 8pm. Tickets: 01904 623568.

Rowntree Players present Norman Robbins's pantomime, Jack And Jill, from December 10 to 14 at 7.30pm plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. The Tuesday performance will be in aid of charity, and tickets can be booked on 01904 623568 and 01904 438518.

Oddsocks Theatre Company returns to York on December 17 with its latest Shakespearean pantomime, The Merry Wives Of Windsor, for a romping night of "two freshly-squeezed housewives, a young male heartthrob and a generous helping of wench, served on a nest of 16th century country town". Tickets: 01773 540962.

The Rowntree Band concludes 2002 at the Rowntree Theatre with a Christmas Concert on December 20 (tickets, Audrey Brown, 01904 425256).

Goodbye 2002, hello 2003, as Stagecoach Youth Theatre York opens the new year with A Little Princess, from January 9 to 11 at 7.30pm plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee (tickets 01904 623568).

All shows start at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated.

Updated: 09:13 Friday, September 06, 2002