THE Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond – Britain’s oldest working theatre in its original form – has announced its autumn season, which includes world premieres and internationally acclaimed companies and performers.

The season starts with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in a fast-paced adaptation of King Lear from August 27 to 30. Widely regarded as Shakespeare’s ultimate tragedy, the play stars Joseph Marcell in the title role – best known for his part as Geoffrey in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air – and Game of Thrones actor John Stahl as the Duke of Gloucester.

Following the success of its highly acclaimed national tour of Strindberg’s Miss Julie in 2103, UK Touring Theatre presents a new English version of A Doll’s House, Ibsen’s ground-breaking play on October 31. This world-premiere provides an exciting and accessible new translation from the original script and shines a spotlight on marriage, money and the freedom of women in the late 19th century.

Another new work, also set in the late 19th century, dramatises the libel and criminal trials of Oscar Wilde written by his grandson, Merlin Holland.

Using the original words spoken in court, when Wilde was sentenced to two years’ hard labour, this production by the European Arts Company explores what it was like to be in the company of a flawed genius.

The Trials of Oscar Wilde is on October 18.

Rebecca Vaughan, who won national acclaim with her one-woman shows Austen’s Women and I, Elizabeth, returns to the Georgian’s stage with her new work, Female Gothic on October 30. Directed by Olivier Award-winner Guy Masterson, this literary spine-chiller celebrates three lost gothic works from the great Victorian female writers.

Comedy shows include Rory McGrath and Philip Pope’s hilarious Bridge Over Troubled Lager on October 17.

McGrath is best known for roles in Who Dares Wins, Chelmsford 123 and Three Men in a Boat, while Pope has appeared in Blackadder and Only Fools and Horses, and wrote songs for Not the Nine O’Clock News and Spitting Image.

International concert pianist Phillip Dyson, who has performed with many of Europe and US’s leading orchestras and broadcasts regularly for the BBC and Classic FM, presents popular classics on September 20. The Georgian Jazz Festival takes place on the weekend of September 13, and 14, and features The Paul Edis Sextet.

Popular folk band Fourum will pack the house on September 27 as part of the Walking and Book Festival.

Local amateur group RADS celebrates its 50th anniversary with Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party from November 6 to 8 and Richmond Operatic Society presents the acclaimed musical adaptation of The Secret Garden (November 19-22).

The Military WAGS Choir Catterick give a concert (November 15) and Richmond-based choir Musicality make a welcome return on September 7 and October 24. The season ends with Puss in Boots, brought by the same production team that created Mother Goose, The Adventures of Sinbad, Babes in the Wood and last year’s Cinderella. The pantomime is written and directed by theatre historian Tony Lidington and will catapult the feline into the early rock’n’roll years of the 1950s and 60s.

Visit georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk or call 01748-825252.