New season: Marina Theatre, Lowestoft

Lowestoft Marina Theatre is bringing spectacle, family fun, music galore - and a very special evening for lovers of classic children's TV - in its new programme.

Starting off with glitzy show The Lady Boys of Bangkok on November 29 - tickets �18.50, concs �16.50 - attention switches to preparations for the theatre's traditional Christmas panto, Cinderella, which runs from December 10 to January 3 (check show times and ticket prices with venue). This year's production stars Neighbours favourite Anne Charleston as the Fairy Godmother, with children's television star Dave Benson-Phillips as Buttons.

Into the new year, Over the Rainbow (February 5, �17, concs �15.50) tells the moving story of the stunningly-voiced Eva Cassidy. The show stars Zoe Tyler, David Paisley and Donna Hazelton.

Marina favourite Damian Williams brings more comedy drama, this time the classic farce The Mating Game, running from February 11-13 (�16.50-�14.50, concs available, matinee �11.50).

Enjoy the slick soul-disco sounds of Errol Kennedy's Imagination on February 14 (�18.50, concs �17.50), while children will lap up the half-term treat that is Peppa Pig's Party (February 20-21, two shows each day, �14.50 -�12.50, under-16s �12.50 or �10.50, family �50).

Enjoy opera's greatest hits with A Night at the Opera (February 21, �24.50, concs �22.50) with the world-class London Festival Opera, while lovers of swing music will lap up the return visit on February 26 Chris Dean's Syd Lawrence Orchestra (�19.50, concs �18.50).

In Boycie & Marlene, television favourites Sue Holderness and John Challis bring their Only Fools and Horses and The Green, Green Grass characters to the stage, sharing some of the shows' best moments - and revealing behind-the-scenes stories. Tickets for the February 28 show are �18.50, concs �16.50.

Tony Stockwell presents an evening of clairvoyance on March 3 (�18.50), while Les McKeown brings his version of teenybopper favourites the Bay City Rollers for a nostalgic evening on March 5 (�19.50, concs �18.50).

And talking of nostalgia, an 'F.A.B.' evening is in prospect the following night when Sylvia Anderson, in conversation with David Courtney, talks about life behind the scenes of the great British sci-fi television series and movies of the late 1950s, 60s and 70s, from Supercar to Space: 1999. Tickets �14, concs �12.

Children's favourite Noddy brings his pals to the Marina on March 7 (two shows, adults �12, children �10, family �40), with more family with the return of the excellent Birmingham Stage Company (March 11-13, six shows), with their new stage adaptation, George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl (adults �14, children �10, family �45).

Former Birds of a Feather favourite Lesley Joseph stars in 'girls' night out' special Hot Flush! The Musical on March 19 (�20). The following night Clive Mantle stars as the much-missed Tommy Cooper in Jus' Like That! (�19.50, concs �18.50). Returning by popular demand is singer and Loose Women star Jane McDonald for another glitzy evening of classic song (March 21, �29.50, concs �29).

Adult - very adult - comedy is dealt by Roy 'Chubby' Brown on March 24 (�20), while ever-popular singer-songwriter Charlie Landsborough is back on March 27 (�17.50, concs �16.50). Hear the true adventures of incredible cyclist Mark Beaumont in The Man Who Cycled the World (March 28, �13). And yes, he did exactly that - all 18,000 miles of it.

On April 4 there's an evening with Strictly Come Dancing's Brian Fortuna and Kristina Rihanoff (�22.50, concs �20.50), while Eighties favourites Go West are in concert on April 9 (�20). British comedy legend Ken Dodd is back on April 10 (�19.50, �18.50), while Marty Wilde brings his Wildcats to the venue the following evening (�20, concs �19.50).

Chilling drama on April 13 and 14 with The Black Veil, by John Goodrum, based on a short story by Charles Dickens (�16.50-�14.50, concs available, matinee all tickets �11.50).

For the little 'uns, the Little Big Club on April 15 (two shows) features Barney, Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu, Fifi Forget-me-Not and Fireman Sam together on stage for the very first time. Adults �14, children �12, family �48.

Don Maclean is the guest star in Bring Me Sunshine (April 18, �12, concs �10), a celebration of Britain's best-loved double act, Morecambe & Wise. The Manfreds and Paul Jones brings together original Manfred members with the band's two classic vocalists - Jones and Mike D'Abo - on April 21 (�19.50, concs �18.50).

The theatre's very successful links with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continues on April 24 with a Beethoven gala (�29.50-�23.50, concs available), while Talon present Egales' classics on April 25 (�18.50, concs �17).

Naughty Cornishman Jethro presents more adults-only comedy on April 27 (�18.50), while Hi De Hi! (April 29-May 1) is a stage version of the television comedy favourite. Damian Williams is joined by Bernie Nolan and original cast members Barry Howard and Nikki Kelly for a laughter-filled show, with the audience becoming the 'campers' on their holidays. Seats �19.50-�17.50, concs �18.50-�16.50).

Adults-only comic Jim Davidson is back on May 6 (�20), while Voulez Vous perform ABBA The Story the following evening (�18.50, concs �17.50). There's Rhythm and blues from Dr Feelgood on May 8 (�20), while Show Me (May 9, adults �12, children �10, family �40) features CBeebies' Chris and Pui.

The evergreen Joe Brown is back on May 12 (�20, concs �19.50), while the comedy genius of Kenneth Williams is celebrated in Stop Messin' About (May 13-15, �20.50, concs �18.50, matinee �16.50). Father and son Chip and Chesney Hawkes are in concert on May 23 (�19.50, concs �18.50) and are followed by Popstar - The Musical (May 27-29, �19.50-�17.50, concs �18.50-�16.50).

And make a note of three more superb concerts from the RPO: July 2, a celebration of film music; October 2, grand opera gala - yes, including Nessun Dorma - and on November 27, Romantic favourites, with violinist Chloe Hanslip.

t Box office: 01502 533200, www.marinatheatre.co.uk