A sterling summer of plays at Cambridge Arts Theatre

A huge variety of stage shows, featuring many top names of stage and screen, will be sure to delight theatre-goers over the coming months.

Girl on a Train and Educating Rita are just two of the shows heading to the city in the next few months as part of Cambridge Arts Theatre’s summer season.

While Sir Ian McKellen’s visit to the theatre in May is already sold out, there are plenty of other performers coming to Cambridge – and plenty of variety.

Stephen Tompkinson stars as the frustrated poet and academic, Frank, in the heart-warming comedy Educating Rita (July 29-August 3), while the book, turned into a film, turned into a play, Girl on a Train, will be arriving later on in the summer (September 23-28).

Niamh Cusack and Stephen Boxer unite on stage in The Remains of the Day (May 14-18) and Admissions (June 3-8) is a comedy about Ivy League entrances.

Some musical theatre comes in the form of Keith Jack, soul and gospel singer Mica Paris and Jorgie Porter in Fame (on now until Saturday, May 4) and the return to the city of the cult classic musical, The Rocky Horror Show (July 15-20).

For younger audiences, there are two page-to-stage adaptations. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (July 12-14) will be brought to life for children aged 3 and up, and Liz Pichon’s lovable character Tom Gates (October 23-26) visits during half- term for children aged 5 and over.

The prestigious triennial Cambridge Greek Play will return (October 16-19). Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles will be performed entirely in ancient Greek.

For comedy fans, the laughs come from Stones in his Pockets (May 27-June 1), An Evening of Eric and Ern (June 27-28) and Peter Pan Goes Wrong (November 12-16).

Ballet Black (May 7-8) are returning to celebrate their 18th year with a lively showcase of modern ballet.

Two spine-chilling thrillers to keep you on the edge of your seat are Not Dead Enough and The Perfect Murder, while best-selling author Peter James is back with The House on Cold Hill (May 20-25), starring Joe McFadden and Rita Simons.

Special one-night events of music, discussion and life stories will bring to the city award-winning jazz vocalist and BBC Radio 3 presenter Claire Martin (June 14) and television talk show host Sir Michael Parkinson (June 26) who will look over his life and career.

Radio broadcaster and television personality the Rev Richard Coles (July 9) will also be exploring his varied career, from musician to vicar.

For more information, visit cambridgeartstheatre.com.