Plays and shows running in Hampshire next week...

A DELIGHTFUL children's tale of hope and optimism will be on show at the Lighthouse, Poole's centre for the arts, from February 8-2. Based on illustrator Quentin Blake's story, Clown, pictured right, is a play without words, set to an original score. It tells the tale of an unwanted toy clown who sets about finding himself a new home.

The play is a co-production between the award-winning Travelling Light theatre Company and Bristol Old Vic. Tickets £6. Box office: 01202 685222.

ALSO at the Lighthouse is the 75th Anniversary Production of R C Sheriff's Journey's End, below. Heartbeat actor Philip Franks reprises the role of Osborne, a performance for which he received great critical acclaim in the West End production.

Set in 1918, a company of officers in the British trenches at St Quentin prepare for a daring raid across No Mans Land. Based on Sheriff's own experiences, this compelling play depicts the characters' humour and courage in the face of certain tragedy.

Journey's End February 8-12. Tickets from £12. Box office: 01202 685222.

CREATIVE arts students from the University of Portsmouth present Kiss Me, Kate at the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth from Thursday. This version of the classic 1948 Cole Porter musical has been put together by the students in just three weeks, with the students involved in all aspects of the production including auditioning, acting and marketing. Kiss Me, Kate tells the humorous story of a theatre company that is staging Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

Kiss Me, Kate runs until 12 February. Tickets from £5. Box office: 023 9264 9000.

GRAHAM Greene's compelling thriller The Third Man comes to the Theatre Royal in Winchester. It's 1948 and novellist Rollo Martins arrives in Vienna to meet up with an old school friend, only to learn that his childhood pal has been killed in a car accident. The dark events that unfold are captivating and violent, and this production by Red Shift has been praised for its thrilling cinematic style.

The Third Man. February 8-10. Tickets from £8. Box office: 01962 840440.

IF you missed the All Star Wrestling show at Southampton Guildhall last night, there are still a couple of opportunities to catch Europe's best wrestling entertainers in action. The nationwide tour stops off at Ferneham Hall in Fareham on February 10, (tickets 01329 231942) and the City Hall in Salisbury on February 12, (tickets 01722 434 434). Lucky fans at Fareham will get to see Yorkshireman Dave 'Rocky' Taylor make his debut on the tour, as he begins a month of performances.