THEATRE Royal Winchester’s new spring programme has a host of theatrical treats for audiences both young and old.

Drama highlights include a superb double-bill performance of Chapel Street and Bitch Boxer (March 12 to 14), the acclaimed new work that was first unveiled as part of the Old Vic New Voices season at Edinburgh 2012, in an exhilarating evening of new talent.

Chapel Street takes place during a booze-fuzzed night of carnage in the lives of two recognisable characters and explores with gritty poetry and crackling dialogue, ‘Cameron’s Broken Britain’.

Bitch Boxer throws the spotlight on women’s boxing and its debut role in the 2012 Olympics when Chloe trains for the fight of her life while dealing with two life-changing events.

Blind Summit theatre company challenges our pre-conceptions of puppetry and theatre with their brilliantly inventive double bill The Table and Space Panorama (March 18 and 19).

Prepare to be astonished by The Table, a puppet show with witty dialogue inspired by Beckett, the Bible and Ikea, followed by Space Panorama, the ingenious re-creation of the Apollo 11 moon landings using only a black-draped table for a stage and the skilled hands of the performer.

For jazz-lovers it is welcome back the multi-instrumentalist A-lister Courtney Pine whose show House Of Legends (February 9) presents a mix of merengue, ska, mento and calypso.

Opera fans will be delighted to see the return of OperaUpClose and La Bohème (March 15 and 16), the Olivier-award winning performance presented in the company’s inimitable, pareddown style in English with piano accompaniment.

Maddy Prior returns this time with Steeleye Span (March 8) and there is more from the music hall of fame with Steve Cropper and Animals and Friends (February 15).

Young theatre goers aged three-plus are well-catered for with three page-to-stage dramas full of familiar characters, songs and laughter.

It begins with Spot’s Birthday Party (March 2 and 3) when the lovable dog is joined by his animal friends to celebrate his big day, Tiddler And Other Terrific Tales (April 4 and 5) brings the charming picture books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler to colourful life.

The Gruffalo’s Child (April 21 and 22) is the delightful sequel to the popular children’s story also created by Donaldson and Scheffler, and brilliantly brought to life by actors, puppets and songs.

Michaela Strachan’s Really Wild Adventures (February 24) gives children aged three to eight the chance to see the popular Children’s BBC TV personality present a whistle-stop interactive show full of animal-inspired poetry, dancing, music and lots of fascinating wildlife facts.

Character comedy is provided by John Shuttleworth (February 8), the brilliant comic creation by League Of Gentlemen star Graham Fellows, and there is a welcome back for Richard Herring with his new show (March 17), which has been described as ‘Man’s answer to the Vagina Monologues’.

An Audience With Jonathan Miller (April 12) sees the groundbreaking 60s satirist discussing his life and work beyond Beyond The Fringe.