NOTORIOUS Georgian actor Edmund Kean will return to the Richmond stage after nearly 200 years in a drama which charts his rise to fame.

Kean made his London debut in 1814 and, five years later, gave a sensational performance at Richmond's theatre.

His behaviour scandalised the town. Prostitutes went to his dressing room between acts and the curtain could not go up until he was done with them.

Alister O'Loughlin takes on the role of Kean in The Tragedian which will be performed at the Georgian Theatre Royal from November 2-6.

The play is part one of a planned trilogy and examines Kean's ten-year struggle to get to the top of the acting profession.

Drama features highly in the autumn and winter programme.

Ancestral Voices brings Moray Watson as James Lees-Milne, founder of the National Trust's country house scheme, co-founder of the Georgian Group and hailed as one of the finest and funniest diarists of the twentieth century.

A new version of Leopold Lewis' The Bells, a chilling tale of murder in snowbound Alsace, will bring Northern Broadsides back to Richmond following the company's first and highly successful visit with The Merchant of Venice this season.

The theatre hosts the North Yorkshire schools' drama festival in October.

Richmond's own amateur dramatic society presents Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, which spans more than 180 years at an ancestral home.

Dance enthusiasts will welcome Independent Ballet Wales, which brings a contemporary version of The Sleeping Beauty to the somewhat small stage of the Georgian.

There is a wide choice of musical performances, including the Cantabile acapella group, a Cliff Richard and the Shadows tribute, folk music from Australia, an illustrated lecture on Georgian music, the Konevets Choral Quartet, the life and music of Mahler, Pluck violinists and cellists, the Angel's Delight eighteenth century concert orchestra and the Good Olde Days music hall.

There is also a series of six classical Richmondshire Subscription concerts, with discounts for subscribers.

Richmond Operatic Society brings a musical version of Hobson's Choice - Walking Happy - to the stage at the beginning of December.

Shows with a festive feel begin with Yule Be Amazed, Christmas themed music and wit, on December 11. The following weekend, Artisan return with their final Stuff The Turkey show.

Pantomime time has been extended to two weeks this year, with Cinderella performed from December 19-31.

Full details of programmes and ticket bookings are available from the theatre box office, tel 01748 825252.