Prepare to get excited: comedy, theatre and music coming to Leamington

With a new manager starting in the coming weeks, the venue is offering patrons fringe theatre, up-and-coming and established comedians, independent and international films, operas, ballets and family shows.

The season starts with the Spa Centre’s first ever community-theatre venture with a joint production with the Teatro Theatre Group of Lark Rise To Candleford.

In October, more new ground will be broken when the venue hosts the town’s first comedy festival, featuring Lee Hurst - best known for his role in They Think It’s All Over, Jarred Christmas - of Mock The Week fame, and comedy veteran Jerry Sadowitz, among others.

There is even a stand-up show especially for children, with Comedy Club For Kids, while other big comedy names include the Hairy Bikers and Hardeep Singh Kohli.

Plays to take the stage will include The Importance of Being Earnest, The Canterbury Tales, An Instinct For Kindness and Macbeth: Sliced to the Core.

The ladies - and some men - of the town may wish to pencil into their diaries performance dates for The Vagina Monologues and international strip-show success The Dreamboys: Full Frontal Tour 2012.

The venue’s cinema will continue to screen a varied selection of up-to-date international releases, independent films, classics - including White Christmas - and the latest children’s films showing during the October half term, Christmas and February half term holidays.

Other family shows will include The Sea Show and How Lion Became King of Tinga Tinga Land.

Popular rock touring group That’ll Be The Day is returning with their special Christmas show, while other music performances in the line-up include Elkie Brooks, Paul Carrack, One Night of Queen and the Ultimate 60s Gold show.

And of course the Christmas season would not be complete without the Spa Centre’s pantomime. This year the theatre is promising a “dazzling” production of Snow White.

A full programme and ticket details are available at the Spa Centre box office at Leamington town hall or online.

And before the autumn season begins, the theatre is giving people the chance to take a look backstage as part of Heritage Open Days on Saturday September 8. As well as a tour, there will be a children’s pantomime colouring competition for a chance to win tickets to the pantomime. Places must be booked. Call 334418.