King's Lynn Arts Centre, the sister venue to the Corn Exchange, has a history going back to medieval times and provides a superb setting for its busy entertainments programme.

King's Lynn Arts Centre, the sister venue to the Corn Exchange, has a history going back to medieval times and provides a superb setting for its busy entertainments programme.

Kicking off the new season is Picasso and Me (May 5), the latest production from the versatile Mike Maran, who has also adapted Captain Corelli's Mandolin and the Little World of Don Camillo for the stage in recent years. Tickets £11, concs £10.

The sounds of southern Africa will be coming to King Street on May 12 when Moya, from Swaziland, are in concert. Tickets £11.50, concs £10.50.

There's a locally-organised event on May 19 when Theatretrain present Musical Express. There's two shows, 3.30pm (£8, under-16s £6) and 7.30pm (£9).

Lightnin' Willie and the Poorboys promises an evening of storming blues from this talented Texas-born, LA-resident singer/vocalist and his band. Tickets £14.50.

There's a family treat on May 26 with an 11am staging of The Dream Tree (£4.50). That's followed on June 1 by the larger-than-life King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, whose red-hot brand of jumping jive, jazz and blues has already made them firm favourites at venues across the country. Tickets £12, concs £11.

Drama follows on June 2, with the Emlyn Williams Theatre/London Classic Theatre Company production of Joanna Murray-Smith's Nightfall. A taut and contemporary thriller, the play examines family, love and loyalty. It contains some strong language. Tickets £11.50, concs £9.50.

There won't be a dull moment when Katzenjammer breeze into Lynn on June 16, promising four hands on one piano and lots of laughs. Tickets: £13.50, concs £12.50.

The songs, sketches and wit of the great Noel Coward are celebrated by Rumpus Theatre in the touring production Carry on Coward (June 23, £9.50, concs £8.50), which promises a sparkling night out.

The arts centre continues its long-standing link with the Royal Geographical Society to bring yet another of the world's great explorers to West Norfolk. On June 30 Mikael Stranberg presents his lecture The Wild West of Siberia, telling the story of this vast, inhospitable, sometimes bleak yet fascinating place - where temperatures can reach an astonishing 140 degrees below Fahrenheit. Tickets £11, concs £10.

There's another Saturday morning family-friendly production on June 30, with the children's play Jewel in the Lotus, with tickets £4.50, family of four £16 and family of three £12.

The venue is hosting two events during the King's Lynn Festival: award-winning folk duo John Tams and Barry Coope (July 25, £10.50, concs £9.50), and the return of that excellent, forthright - and just occasionally, a bit waspish! - historian David Starkey (July 27). His lecture this year will be Church, State and Crown: Religion and Politics in England, 1500-1700, with tickets £10.50, concs £9.50, under-18s £5 sure to be among the swiftest sellers of the new season.

The centre will also be continuing its regular arthouse film screenings, with Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated Letters From Iwo Jima on May 3-4, period drama The Illusionist (May 10-11), Jane Austen biopic Becoming Jane (June 7-9) and documentary Iraq in Fragments (June 14-15) already confirmed.

The arts centre galleries promises a busy programme of exhibitions, art summer school sessions and workshops too, with much-acclaimed Eastern Open already in full swing until May.

Box office on 01553 764864 or www.kingslynnarts.co.uk