THE poetry of Kathleen Jamie (pictured) comes under the spotlight on Tuesday (September 11, 6pm) at Grasmere's Thistle Hotel as the next event in the Wordsworth Trust Summer Poetry Readings.

Kathleen has always been a traveller and her words have painted some powerful pictures of her experiences in China and Pakistan, as well as

her native Scotland.

The Autonomous Region, a collection of photographs and poems, grew out of months spent on the road in Tibet.

Her latest volume Jizzen - old Scots for childbed - features the politics and social history of her homeland, and recalls those who left the slums for Canada and America and of the people who remained at home to be later re-housed.

Tickets £4 in advance, £5 at the door.

Further details on 015394-35544.

BEETHAM'S Heron Theatre hosts John Godber's touching comedy April in Paris tonight (Friday, 7.30pm) and tomorrow.

The touring production, staged by Cumbria's Cat's Eye Theatre Company, is in the extremely capable directing hands of Richard Foster, with the role of Bet played by popular Lakeland thespian Judith Notley, and another of the region's well-known actors Steve Ashton, as her hubbie Al.

Tickets £ 6.

Box office 015395-64283, open today 10am-2pm.

TWO of Eastern Europe's finest choirs will lift up their voices at Cartmel Priory soon.

On Sunday, September 23 (8pm), St Peterburg's Konevets Vocal Quartet will perform, and on Friday, November 9, the 28-strong Boyan Ensemble, from Kiev return to the Priory.

Meanwhile, tomorrow (Saturday, 8pm) the choral ensemble, Pieces of Eight, directed by the grand master of choristers, Ian Jones, perform in the Priory's Summer Concerts series.

The following Saturday (September 15, 8pm) is the turn of another outstanding choir, Peter Frost's Lakeland Singers.

THE Ulverston Society of Artists Autumn Exhibition runs from Tuesday, September 11, until Saturday, September 15, at the Coronation Hall (9am-5pm.

Saturday 9am-4pm).

A percentage of all sales will be donated to St Mary's Hospice.