IT is a case of season's greetings from three of the area's Little Theatres whose new programmes are out.

The forthcoming 2002/3 season which begins next month promises a wealth of variety.

Bolton Little Theatre begins the season with Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. This features three short plays performed in monologue style. The production takes place in the Forge Theatre from September 14 to 21.

Corpse, a comedy thriller by Gerald Moon, runs in the main stage from October 19 to 26. When We Are Married by JB Priestley follows again on the main stage from November 30 to December 7.

A Christmas Variety Show from December 18 to 22 promises thrills and spills, and January 18 to 25 sees the staging of Willy Russell's Our Day Out. This will be presented by the BLT Youth Group.

A Shakespeare Revue from February 22 to March 1 will focus on the Bard brushed up in songs and sketches by Victoria Wood, Noel Coward, Maureen Lipman, Cole Porter and Monty Python among others. Harold Pinter's play Betrayal will be staged in the Forge Theatre from April 5 to 12. The season will end with Good Morning Bill by PG Wodehouse, a sparkling social comedy of the 1920s.

Farnworth Little Theatre starts its new season with Shelagh Stephenson's comedy The Memory of Water. It runs from September 7 to 14. California Suite by Neil Simon is also being presented.

The theatre's youth section will perform The Wizard of Oz from January 25 to February 1. The Field by John B Keane will run from March 29 to April 5.

The season ends with Alan Ayckbourn's Comic Potential, from May 31 to June 7.

Tyldesley Little Theatre will present four plays and a Christmas pantomime. The season begins September 24 to 28 when veteran director Margaret Speakes directs The Garden Party. This year's panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, runs from November 30 to December 7.

January should be brightened up by the frantic comedy My Friend Miss Flint. Denis Beardsworth will direct .

The following month sees a change of pace as Ian Taylor directs Your Turn To Clean The Stair from March 25 to 30. The season ends May 20 to 24 when TLT chairman Jenny Orman will direct the Lancashire classic Hindle Wakes.