PACK a picnic for a trio of treats as the grounds of Winchester Cathedral turn into a theatre for the summer.

Internationally acclaimed theatre company, Illyria, return to the beautiful and often hidden setting of the Deanery Garden in The Close for three dates, starting tonight.

Babe the Sheep Pig makes an appearance at 6pm in a heartwarming tale of friendship, courage and one pig’s determination.

From the same creative team behind Illyria's sensational 2012 production of The Twits, the production is suitable for all over fives.

In Dick King-Smith’s glorious classic, Farmer Hogget wins a piglet at the fair – and everyone knows what unfortunate fate awaits piglets on a farm. Adopted by Fly the sheepdog, Babe develops his own methods of herding sheep using politeness instead of barking orders, and even saves the flock from being stolen by sheep rustlers.

But Farmer Hogget is a hard man to please. So when Babe is entered for the county sheep dog trials he is going to need Fly's help, all his wits, and as much politeness as he can muster if he is going to get the sheep to co-operate, win the trials, and save his bacon.

The Mikado and As You Like It will follow later in August.