IN spite of legal battles, which took Hazel O'Connor to the brink of bankruptcy with her first record company, she released one of the most memorable singles of the 1980s, the haunting Will You from the iconic film Breaking Glass.

She switched back to acting to stay afloat financially and headed for Los Angeles, where, in addition to marrying, she looked certain of further success. Sadly, a skin cancer scare made her decide to set up home in Ireland, the land of her Galway born father.

The singer is admired in the industry for being an artist who decided to take control of her career, right down to the artwork, CD sales, booking gigs and driving the tour van.

She says: "When I first got famous, I always said music and performers should not be boxed in by fashions of the time. A good song should live forever and should cut the mustard whether it's performed by a big band or one acoustic instrument. A performer should be able to move an audience with or without all the trappings. So I'm happy singing on the pavement or atWembley Arena, as long as I'm singing and the audience are moved that's what it's all about."

O’Connor is appearing at Richmond’s The Georgian Theatre Royal on Saturday, March 12, 7.30pm, with an up-close and personal evening in which her unique voice promises renewed passion and fire as she explores a stunning repertoire of old and new songs and stories.

Accompanied by virtuoso saxophonist Clare Hirst (The Belle Stars, Communards and David Bowie) on sax and vocals and Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on keyboards and vocals; this powerful blend of voices and musicianship brings an evening of note, plus

an audience meet and greet after the show.

In 2009, O'Connor was awarded her own star on Coventry's Walk of Fame and celebrated 35 Years of Breaking Glass with a major city tour in November and December last year, which included a sell-out date at Union Chapel, in London.

Comedy is a big part of the action at Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal as the UK’s oldest working theatre unveils its Spring and Summer programme.

Other musical performances range from a classical recital with clarinet and piano duo Sarah Douglas and Amy Wakefield on February 20 to The Houghton Weavers offering their unique blend of popular folk music, humour and audience participation on February 27 and singer and fiddle player and BBC Musician of the Year Tom McConville on Saturday, March 19.

Comedy nights include the February 19 visit of BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, Simon Evans; award-winning writer and comedian Rob Auton on March 18 and everyone’s favourite grumpy old woman Jenny Eclair, who will be dishing out advice on how to survive middle age without going insane on April 10.

The People Show – Britain’s longest-running alternative theatre company who will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on 8 June – will screen a short film before performing new show Seagull Noir.

Queen fans will not be disappointed by the appearance on May 6 of Mercury – who performed an exclusive concert for the original band’s own Roger Taylor. Other musical acts include the Reduced Rock Company with 100 rock ‘n’ roll 1950s hits in 100 minutes on April 9; an evening of music inspired by the works of Shakespeare with Opera Nova on April 21; international concert pianist Young-Choon Park on April 29; and Music for a Midsummer Evening on June 19, featuring soloists from the Royal Opera, Covent Garden and English National Opera.

The Vienna Festival Ballet return on May 27 with Tchaikovsky’s classic love story Swan Lake and prior to the performance, on May 26, they are offering a unique opportunity to attend an onstage rehearsal.

On May 3 there is a mime production of swinging Sixties story The Best thing by Vamos Theatre, the UK’s leading full-mask theatre company.

On June 18, a journey from the ancient Egyptian pyramids to the soaring skyscrapers of Manhattan will be made by renowned architectural historian and TV presenter Dan Cruickshank in A History of Architecture in 100 Buildings .

Dyad Productions’ will follow one-woman shows of Austen’s Women; I, Elizabeth Female Gothic and The Unremarkable Death of Marilyn Monroe with Dalloway – an exploration of Virginia Woolf and the feminine response to the aftermath of the First World War on April 19.

Children's shows are Rhubarb Theatre’s The Amazing Adventures of Librarian Lil on March 5 and Alice in Wonderland, on April 1, by the popular team from Riverbank Productions including sing-along songs and puppetry.

Popular drama includes: Wilde Without the Boy, The Veil, The Maids, Roseacre and Wyrd Sisters plus musicals Little Shop of Horrors and Once Upon A Musical.

n Hazel O'Connor tickets are priced from £10 to £25 and all shows can be booked on 01748-825252 or georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk