New season: Princess Theatre

TREVOR HEATON, EDP Whats On Editor

You shall go and have a ball at Hunstanton Princess Theatre. The panto Cinderella - always the highlight of the year's line-up - is now up and running. And when it finally ends its run on January 4, there's plenty more to look forward to.

The rest of January is taken up with film screenings, including Pride and Prejudice, Oliver Twist and Flightplan among others.

The live shows resume on January 29 with the return of Irish country favourite Jimmy Buckley (£13.50- £8.50) - and then the fun really starts!

There are several new shows making their debut at the theatre - three in February alone. Rock'n'roll tribute show C'Mon Everybody (February 11, £14-£8.50) promises a hit-packed helping of musical nostalgia in which, no doubt the works of Messrs E Cochran and E Presley Esq will feature!

Another newie is the latest touring show from the Theatre Royal - the Bury St Edmunds one, that is. Showstopper (February 19, £12.50-£8.50) is a one-woman comedy about love, glamour and the sound of music.

The third new show is a James Last-style evening of easy listening in the capable hands of the Mike James Orchestra and Singers (February 26, £14.50- £8.50).

There are more new shows promised for March: children's production Merlin's Secret (March 5, £8.50), starring international illusionist Doctor Bondini in a feast of tuneful, funny and magical spectacle for children aged seven and over and their parents.

You'll remember John Suchet from his many years as one of ITN's star newsreaders, of course. What you may not know is that he is a renowned expert on classical music and has written about Beethoven to great acclaim. Now he has turned his attention to the intriguing story of the Strauss family. In his show The Last Waltz (March 11, £15-£8.50) he will be joined by the Bernard Lanskey Ensemble and a guest soprano to reveal their tale - and showcase some of the best-loved music ever written.

The Devil You Know (March 12, £10.50) concluding new shows during March, is a comedy drama exploring the relationship between a woman, her husband and her ex-lover.

It takes great singer to dare to tackle the music made famous by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin. Fortunately, Louis Hoover is just such a performer, with sell-out appearances at the London Palladium and at venues in the US and mainland Europe to his credit. His new show, After Dark (April 1, £15-£8.50) promises to be one of the new season highlights.

Motown fans should check another show Angelo Starr with the Team (April 8, £14.50-£8.50) featuring the brother of the late, great Edwin Starr and his former band.

Other new shows include The Magical Dance of Ireland (April 14, £14.50-£8.50) showcasing traditional Irish, dance, music and song and The Westenders (April 22, £14.50-£8.50) featuring six former West End - but you'd guessed that - singers performing songs from classic musicals.

And that's just the new stuff.

There are plenty of old favourites too: British rock'n'roll legend Joe Brown - who has just sold out King's Lynn Corn Exchange with Marty Wilde - is back at one of his favourite theatres for two shows (February 17-18, £15.50-£8.50), Electric Light Orchestra tribute group Magic - A Kind of ELO (February 25, £13.50- £8.50), former lead singer with the Indians Stephen Smyth (March 19, £12.50-£8.50), the Searchers (March 26, £14.50-£8.50) and country star Raymond 'Froggy' Froggatt making his traditional springtime shows (April 28-30, £13-£8.50).

Fast-moving musical nostalgia shows always go down well with Norfolk audiences, and so tickets are bound to be demand for An' That's Jazz (February 4, £13.50-£8.50), Nashville Nights and Dixie Days (February 5, £14-£8.50), Red Hot Country (March 4, £14-£8.50), At the Hop (March 18, £12.50-£8.50), Red Hot Chartbusters (March 25, £13.50-£8.50), Forever In Blue Jeans (April 15, £13.50-£8.50) and We'll M eet Again (April 23, £9.50).

The new brochure is available now. Box office on 01485 532252 or visit www.princesstheatrehunstanton.co.uk