THE Haymarket has three great plays for the autumn and tickets are on sale now.

Arms and the Man (or The Chocolate Cream Soldier) by George Bernard Shaw, from Thursday, October 10 to Saturday, October 12, is a sparkling comedy and real audience-pleaser.

Beautiful young Raina is betrothed to Major Sergius Saranoff, who is away fighting alongside her father. When escaping enemy Captain Bluntschli climbs into her bedroom through the balcony window, does he have ammunition in his pockets? No... he has chocolate creams, like any other jobbing soldier.

And when she catches Sergius flirting with her maid, Raina finds her grand notions of love and heroism slipping away, as endearment and honesty take their place.

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Brilliantly debunking cliches about love and war, Arms and the Man is presented by Rumpus Theatre Company in association with the Sarah Thorne Theatre, Broadstairs.

From Thursday, October 24 to Saturday, October 26, Blackeyed Theatre in association with Harrogate Theatre and South Hill Park Arts Centre presents Dracula, by Bram Stoker.

The year is 1897 and mankind is on the cusp of vast technological change, scientific mastery, and media innovation. But poised between traditional beliefs, the threat of the unknown, and the shock of the new world, an altogether darker fear is emerging. As a new shadow looms large over England, a small group of young men and women, led by Professor Van Helsing, are plunged into an epic struggle for survival.

Stretching from provincial England to the mountainous wastes of Transylvania, Bram Stoker's gothic thriller embodies the struggle to break taboos, and stop the unknown outside becoming the enemy within. This brilliant, theatrical treatment of Dracula blends Victorian gothic with the contemporary, and features a haunting soundscape, powerful performances, and innovative design for an exhilarating theatrical experience.

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Rumpus Theatre Company pays a second visit from Thursday, November 7 to Saturday, November 9, this time with the new, devilishly funny farce The Comedy of Terrors by John Goodrum.

When Jo Smith arrives for an audition with director Vyvian Jones, it turns out she's actually been invited to the theatre by his twin brother Beverley, who wants her to impersonate her own twin sister Fiona. This is a terrible ruse to hide Beverley and Fiona's affair.

It all starts to unravel when the real Fiona, Sons of Satan Association member Vyvian, and his identical triplet brother the police officer arrive. The stage is set for a truly fast-moving madcap comedy of multiple mistaken identities.

For more details of these, and the full Haymarket programme, visit anvilarts.org.uk

Tickets for Arms and the Man are priced at £26, 2pm £24, for Dracula £26, 2.30pm £25, and for The Comedy of Terrors £26, 2pm £24.

Tickets for under 25s and f/t students are priced £15.50 for both Rumpus productions, and £16.50 for Dracula.  All tickets include £4 booking fee.

Contact the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244.