THE new season at Harrogate Theatre opens with the world premiere of a rock musical based on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Tears Of A Clown follows in the rock'n'Bard tradition of previous hits at the theatre, Bob Carlton's From A Jack To A King and Return To The Forbidden Planet.

The show is written by the theatre's artistic director Rob Swain and Shelley Willetts.

The story tells of young clown Hamlet, who performs with the Denmark State Circus. He's convinced that his father, the ring master, has been murdered by his uncle Claude.

The show includes rock'n'roll songs, such as Thriller, Delilah, Bat Out Of Hell, Suspicious Minds and Tears Of A Clown. It runs from September 14 to October 6. Tickets (01423) 502116.