Threatened shows at the delayed St George's Theatre have escaped cancellation as bosses confirm a host of alternative venues across town.

Acts supposed to be on stage at the �7.5m theatre can now be seen at Yarmouth library, Christchurch and the York Road Drill Hall among other back-up venues - after bosses shifted shows as far forward as November.

And among re-housed performers are Keeping Up Appearances actress Patricia Routledge, stand-up comedian Jeremy Hardy and singer-songwriter Ralph McTell.

As reported, the theatre - supposed to open in February 2012 - has been held up by a mystery fault in the pavilion, and repair work will not start until builders RG Carter Ltd and designers Hopkins Architects Partnership have agreed liability.

And council bosses rejected partial opening as it may incur extra costs on ratepayers. But St George's is pressing ahead with its preview season, and organisers are hoping to have the box office up and running 'imminently' - selling tickets in person at the Drill Hall and online via its website.

Chris Moore, general manager of St George's, said: 'Before that happens, we are happy to take names and build up waiting-lists for these first shows either through our box office answer phone or via our website.

'We are presenting a varied preview programme and we would like the people of Yarmouth – and beyond – to come along and see the productions. We hope the box office will be up and running very soon.

'As well as running it from our Drill Hall admin base and via the worldwide web, we are also hoping to have a mobile box office selling tickets at places like Great Yarmouth Market Place and the town's library so everybody has a chance of getting the best seats to see some of the top shows coming to the borough.'

To make a reservation for show tickets, call St George's Theatre box office on 01493 331484 or email hello@stgeorgestheatre.com

SHOWS have been confirmed at venues across Yarmouth, including:

The Drill Hall

The first show is on October 4 when Great Yarmouth welcomes popular comedian Tim Vine.

The show will see Tim host his own chat show made up of guests from the audience who will be encouraged to tell tall tales and chat about their lives.

Less than a week later, the Drill Hall welcomes stand-up comedian and writer Jeremy Hardy on October 10. As well as being a prolific writer, he is also a television performer actor appearing in the likes of Saturday Live and Blackadder Goes Forth, as well as a host of radio comedy shows including Jeremy Hardy Speaks To The Nation, The News Quiz, and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.

The highly-acclaimed all-male Shakespeare company Propeller make their Great Yarmouth debut at the Drill Hall on October 23.

They will be presenting two performances of their 'pocket-sized' version of Henry V condensing the play into an hour followed by a 40 minute Q and A session with the cast. The company took the full production on a worldwide tour earlier this year winning critical acclaim and are now taking the slimmed-down version on tour to give audiences an insight into the language, characterisation and power of The Bard.

Christchurch

The church will host some of the St George's preview season beginning with acclaimed actress Patricia Routledge (Keeping Up Appearances) who stars in Admission One Shilling on October 12. It sees her joining forces with internationally-renowned popular pianist Piers Lane to tell the story of Myra Hess and her extraordinary wartime concerts at the National Gallery. Using Myra's own words, it tells how she performed around 1600 concerts while bombs rained down on the capital during World War Two, and is directed by Christopher Luscombe (The History Boys, The Globe's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Rocky Horror Picture Show).

Christchurch will also host the return of popular entertainer Richard Digance on October 20.

Richard's blend of topical and observational comedy blended with folk tunes has proved a hit for many years earning him a Bafta nomination, and a Gold Award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.

Richard has also performed all over the world with a number of on-stage coups including supporting both Steve Martin in America and Robin Williams at the London Palladium.

St Nicholas Minster

The Minster will host a concert from the globe-trotting flautist Sir James Galway on September 6 which will see him perform alongside the Orchestra of St Johns, conducted by John Lubbock. Dubbed by critics 'a modern musical master,' Sir James has sold over 30 million albums worldwide, appeared on television across the globe and also mentors musical students through his International Masterclass Series.

The Minster will also host a concert from prolific singer-songwriter Ralph McTell on November 9. Probably best known for the timeless hit The Streets of London. which won an Ivor Novello Award, Ralph is celebrating more than 40 years on the road with a style of performing that mixes the tuneful and poignant. He has worked with many top names including Nanci Griffith, and has also been presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards panel.

Great Yarmouth Library

The library is also hosting the preview season of St George's Theatre's family shows.

Long Nose Puppet's new show Penguin, based on the award-winning book by Polly Dunbar, is performed on Sunday October 21, popular comedian and Norwich Theatre Royal pantomime favourite Tom Beard presents his twist on traditional stories in Fairy Tales of the Unexpected on October 31, and top French circus performers present a double-bill of family entertainment on November 14.