A SWINGING Sixties' story of unconditional love told entirely through mime by characters wearing masks is one of the drama highlights in the spring season at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond.

The Best Thing, which has attracted five-star reviews, was commissioned by the London International Mime Festival. It will be presented by the UK's leading mask company, Vamos Theatre, on May 3.

Other dramas include the one-woman play Dalloway, based on the novel by Virginia Woolf, exploring women's response to the aftermath of the First World War. Scheduled for April 19, it is the latest show by Dyad Productions which has previously staged Austen’s Women, I, Elizabeth, Female Gothic and The Unremarkable Death of Marilyn Monroe at the Georgian.

The season also brings Wilde Without the Boy, The Veil, The Maids, Roseacre and Wyrd Sisters.

Comedy launches on February 19 with Simon Evans, star of BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, followed by award-winning writer and comedian Rob Auton with his 2015 sell-out Edinburgh Fringe show on March 18. On April 10 Jenny Eclair will dish out advice on how to survive middle age without going insane.

The People Show, Britain’s longest-running alternative theatre company, will mark its 50th anniversary on June 8 with a short film and latest show, Seagull Noir.

Music accommodates diverse tastes ranging from a classical recital by clarinet and piano duo Sarah Douglas and Amy Wakefield on February 20 to an evening with 1980s' pop icon Hazel O’Connor on March 12.

The Houghton Weavers offer folk music, humour and audience participation on February 27, and the internationally renowned singer and fiddle player and BBC Musician of the Year Tom McConville will lead a musical romp of high-energy Celtic music on Saturday, March 19.

May 6 brings Mercury, widely recognised as the world’s number one Queen tribute band.

The Reduced Rock Company promises 100 rock ‘n’ roll 1950s' hits in 100 minutes on April 9; Opera Nova presents music inspired by the works of Shakespeare on April 21; international concert pianist Young-Choon Park performs on April 29, and Music for a Midsummer Evening on June 19 features soloists from the Royal Opera, Covent Garden and English National Opera.

Vienna Festival Ballet returns to dance Swan Lake on May 27. The day before there will be an opportunity to attend an on-stage rehearsal and gain an insight into the backstage life of a leading ballet company.

Shows for children start with Rhubarb Theatre’s The Amazing Adventures of Librarian Lil on March 5, followed on April 1 by Alice in Wonderland by Riverbank Productions with sing-along songs and puppetry.

Other shows include the musicals Little Shop of Horrors and Once Upon A Musical.

Details can be seen in the new programme brochure or on the website georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk. For tickets call the box office on 01748 825252.