Who's treading the boards in the south this week.

A BONA fide film star and a world premiere come to Salisbury Playhouse this week in the form of Vermillion Dream, which stars Catherine McCormack.

Catherine, who is from Alton in Hampshire, has numerous film credits to her name, including Braveheart, The Weight of Water, Spy Game and The Land Girls. Her theatrical credits include Ann in All My Sons at the Royal National theatre, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award.

She plays Miriam, a talented artist and tortured soul obsessed with the work of the Great Masters of the Renaissance, Titian and Durer.

Locked in an endless struggle to create a work of equal significance to theirs she is destined to fall short. Her disappointment leads her to a shocking decision that she believes will bring her the relief that she craves.

The play runs from Thursday, October 28 to November 20. Box office: 01722 320333.

ANOTHER premiere comes to the area this week, when Peepolykus theatre company unveil their new show, All in the Timing.

The show features six one-act comedies and presents a world where, among other things, washing machines seduce men and Trotsky can live out 16 versions of his last day.

When the show comes to the Forest Arts Centre in New Milton on October 23 it will be its UK premiere, having started life as an off-Broadway production on 1994.

Box office: 01425 612393.

COMEDIAN Lenny Henry is so in demand that he is coming to The Anvil in Basingstoke for not just one night this weekend but two.

He is bringing his So Much Things to Say tour to the venue on Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 October in which he will be covering such subjects as parents, love, sex, war and reggae music.

Offering what is reputed to be his sharpest comedy routines to date the show features a raft of new characters and is sure to be a great evening of fabulous comedy.

Box office: 01256 844244.

JIMMY Carr brings his Public Display of Affection comedy show to Southampton Guildhall on October 22 as part of his first ever national tour.

Jimmy, who has hosted such shows as Your Face or Mine and Distraction as well as appearing on Parkinson, Have I Got News For You and Jay Leno's Tonight Show, is a Perrier Award-nominee and has a reputation for infamous one liners.

Box office: 023 8063 2601.

THE Nuffield presents its touring production, Anthem for Doomed Youth in its Studio from Monday, 25 October to Wednesday, 27 October.

The play features a blend of poetry and music, presenting a haunting vision of life on the front line during the First World War.

A soldier and a nurse are trapped in the no man's land of their own experiences and, as they find solace in each other's company, the truth of their situation becomes clearer and more horrific.

Box office: 023 8067 1771.