FIVE recent French films, plus a classic Gallic comedy, will be shown at the Coach House Theatre in Malvern next weekend.

The theatre in Grange Road was last year declared a regional centre for French cinema, hosting its first weekend of films from across the Channel in November.

The latest programme opens on Saturday at 11am, with Monsieur Chocolat (12), directed by Roschy Zem, which tells the story of Rafael Padilla, once a Cuban slave, who was discovered in a country circus by George Footit, a British clown and acrobat.

Avril et le Monde Truque (PG), directed by Christian Demares and Frank Ekinci, is an animation set in an imaginary 1941 where Napoleon the Fifth rules France and scientists keep disappearing. It is showing at 2.30pm.

And at 5.30pm, La Grande Vadrouille (PG) was made in 1966 and has become France’s most popular comedy. Featuring Bourvil, Louis de Funes and our own Terry-Thomas, the film tells the story of two French civilians and a downed British bomber crew in World War Two , trying to escape from Nazi-occupied France.

At 11am on Sunday, Les Chevaliers Blancs (12), directed by Joachim Lafosse. is based on the true story of Zoe’s Ark, a charitable organisation which purports to be rescuing children in distress from an African country, but is suspected of illegal trafficking.

At 2.30pm, Made in France (15), directed by Nicolas Boukhrief) is a tense thriller based round a secret cell of fanatical Islamic terrorists who are infiltrated by Sam, a young journalist.

And the weekend concludes at 5.30pm with Parisienne (Peur de Rien) (15), directed by Danielle Arbid, which tells the story of Lina, a young Lebanese student who arrives in Paris to start university in 1993, and quickly finds life very challenging.

Tickets (£6.50 per film or £18 for three) are available at the Malvern Theatres box office on 01684 892277 or malverntheatres.co.uk.