THE summer holidays are drawing to a close and time to be thinking of how to keep entertained during the autumn and winter months.

Chelmsford's Civic Theatres have launched their September to January brochure with a line-up to suit all tastes.

If music is your bag then one of the enduring groups of the 60s will be performing at the Civic Theatre.

The Searchers can boast a list of all time greats including Sweets for my Sweet, Needles and Pins and When You Walk in the Room. They take the stage on Wednesday September 19.

The music and life of Clash legend Joe Strummer are the subjects of an inspirational and moving drama Meeting Joe Strummer on Tuesday September 18.

Lovers of mirth and madness will not want to miss An Evening of Flanders and Swann - At the Drop of a Hippopotamus coming to the Civic on September 13.

Ballet comes in the form of Coppelia presented by Independent Ballet Wales at the Civic on Friday September 14 and Saturday September 15.

October opens with Girls Behind running at the Civic from Monday October 1 to Saturday October 6.

In the girls' night out vein, it is another look at the loves and lives of three women with different pasts and hopes for the future who meet up to sing at a club.

There is Michael Clooney's farce Cash on Delivery with an all star cast that includes Kevin Kennedy who played Curly Watts in Coronation Street and Melvyn Hayes from It Ain't Half Hot Mum. That runs from Monday October 29 to Saturday November 3.

Dance will be portrayed when Jaleo comes to the Civic on Wednesday October 17, fusing the essential elements of flamenco with their own inimitable and charismatic brand of Spanish passion and emotion.

Two classics The Tempest (Tuesday October 9 and Wednesday October 10 at 1pm ) and Frankenstein (the same days but in the evening at 7.45pm) are presented by Love and Madness Productions.

The Drifters hit town on Wednesday November 14.

You can order the new brochure and book rickets by calling 01245 606505.