THERE is drama a plenty at The Haymarket during the summer season.

From May 2 to 4, a cast of four perform multiple outrageous characters in a fast-paced romp Crimes on the Nile.

The Agatha Christie-inspired comedy thriller sees Belgian detective extraordinaire, Artemis Arinae, enjoying a cruise along the Nile when tragedy strikes again. The passengers and staff are suspects, the murder count is growing, will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time?

Mindgame by Anthony Horowitz, May 20 to 22, is a mind-bending psychological thriller that comes to Basingstoke following a West End run.

Mark Styler, a writer of glossy ‘true crime’ paperbacks, has no idea what he’s walking into when he tries to get an interview with Easterman, a notorious serial killer. First he has to get past Dr Farquhar, the quixotic head of Fairfields – the asylum where Easterman is kept. But soon he discovers that nothing is what it seems.

For families, Zog by Julia Donaldson, May 29 and 30, is the perfect treat. Zog is so eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know.

He tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three. Luckily, the plucky Princess Pearl patches him up ready to face his biggest challenge yet… a duel with Gadabout the Great!

There are also some great one nighters including a thrilling collaboration between two adventurous virtuoso musicians - Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita deliver a stunning exhibition of musicianship on May 24.

Drawing deep on their own diverse traditions, they transform them with remarkable synergy into an extraordinary performance.

Barry Cryer and Colin Sell on June 26 entertain with songs, jokes and the amazing realisation that they’re still here! On July 3, Susie Dent recounts a selection of the funniest moments from her 25 years on Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. She’ll also take you on a journey into the curious, unexpected, and downright surreal origins of the words we use every day.

Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen shares heart-warming tales and honest anecdotes from her remarkable farming and family life in North Yorkshire on July 4. Accompanied by some of Amanda's wonderful photography, experience the highs and lows of the farming year, which in 2018 included the extremes of the Beast from the East and one of the hottest summers on record.

Showaddywaddy will bring their uplifting show to The Haymarket on July 6. Expect to boogie along to Under The Moon of Love, Three Steps to Heaven, Hey Rock & Roll, When, Blue Moon, Pretty Little Angel Eyes and many more.

For details of all the shows now on sale visit anvilarts.org.uk or call the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244.