PLENTY of surprises await audiences at Salisbury Arts Centre from world music to speakers including Michael Portillo and David Starkey.

Audiences will get a chance to try something new as part of the spring season which has just been unveiled.

The international flavour of music is brought to the city by Polish Klezmer band (February 4) American duo The Graham (March 3) and Welsh Twmpath band, AllanYnYFan, who will be providing the soundtrack for the art centre's St Patrick's Day Ceilidh on March 7 as well as Finish group Frigg (April 1).

For the first time the venue will be screening National Theatre live productions in the new year Pinter’s No Man’s Land, Shaffer’s Amadeus, Shaw’s Saint Joan and Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

The programme also features talks from some familiar faces. Michael Portillo will talk about his life on January 29 while Dan Cruickshank speaks about architecture. And on March 18, historian and TV presenter David Starkey discusses Tudor monarch Henry VIII. Audiences can also join Wendy Cope for an afternoon of tea and poetry in April.

Vamos Theatre return to Salisbury with a new production – The Best Thing - which tells a swinging sixties bitter-sweet story of mistaken morals, broken hearts and unconditional love.

And for families the classic story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar comes to life with 75 puppets and there is a family dance show, Sponge, which is perfect for babies and children. There will also be a regular baby and toddler sensory experience workshops on the last Friday of each month.

Another first for 2017 at the arts centre is SQUAWK – Salisbury Queer Arts Weekender with a range of theatre, music, comedy, cabaret and drag artists from across the UK. Ceri Dupree and his one man, 21 woman glamorous comedy show, feature in the programme as well as Hiss Hope Springs comedy cabaret chanteuse, the London Gay Men’s Chorus Ensemble and a DJ party night with Sadie Lee.

Tickets are available now from Salisbury Arts Centre box office on 01722 321744 or at salisburyartscentre.co.uk.