DAMIAN Cruden will direct the new season's second repertory show in the main house, Pam Gems' Piaf, starring Elizabeth Mansfield, the musical actress who has made the role of Edith Piaf her own, from June 1 to 22.

The theatre's new resident director, Jim Hooper, will take the reins for his Theatre Royal debut, Joe Orton's anarchic 1965 black comedy Loot, from July 12 to August 3.

Visiting shows will include Unicorn Theatre for Children's Peter Rabbit & Friends, from April 30 to May 4, and the return of Scottish company Theatre Babel, this time with Graham McLaren's production of Uncle Vanya, Anton Chekhov's account of strained rural family relations, from May 8 to 11.

From the York amateur ranks, York Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society will stage its centenary production, My Fair Lady, from May 15 to 25, and York Opera's summer double bill will be Verdi's Don Carlos, sung in English on July 2,3, 5 and 6, and Gilbert & Sullivan For All, July 4.

A series of one-night stands will open with jazz singer Stacey Kent on May 26 for J-Nights, the York international jazz event, while Graham Gouldman will celebrate 30 years of 10CC In Concert on May 30.

A week will be given over to one-night stops in June. Dates are: June 24, Platform 4's Baroque By Candlelight, a concert of 18th century music; June 25, Independent Ballet Wales, making its Theatre Royal debut with Shakespeare's comedy of the sexes, The Taming Of The Shrew; June 26, Sing-A-Long-A Sound Of Music; June 27, Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames; June 28, jazz veterans Cleo Laine, John Dankworth & Friends; June 29, Zimbabwean a cappella singers and dancers Black Umfolosi.

In The Studio will be a balance of touring and in-house work.

Pilot Theatre Company's Mirad - A Boy From Bosnia, Ad de Bont's survival tale of one boy's courageous journey to a new life, runs from April 11 to 27.

The Theatre Royal production of Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine, seeking to capitalise on this winter's sell-out success of Russell's Educating Rita, takes over from May 2 to 25, with voice coach Susan Stern as guest director.

These productions will be followed by Forge Theatre Company's account of Ariel Dorfman's psychological thriller Death & The Maiden, directed by former Theatre Royal work-experience student Lorne Campbell, May 28 to June 15.

The Theatre Royal production of April In Paris, John Godber's study of first-time Brits abroad, runs from July 4 to August 3. "It's one of my favourite Godber plays, a story of going on holiday and being a Yorkshireman in Paris," says Damian. "It's storytelling at its best: so good you can do it with only two chairs."

York Theatre Royal's spring and summer brochure is newly available, with details of the new Stars discount booking system that will enable theatregoers to see Dead Funny, Piaf and Loot for £7.50 each.

Updated: 08:43 Friday, March 29, 2002