CALAMITY Jane, starring Toyah Willcox, Fame and Moscow Ballet are waiting in the wings to entertain audiences at Darlington's Civic Theatre next year.

As the last curtain goes down on the pantomime in January, teams will move in to prepare the stage for a series of four one-night spots including Karen Noble as Dusty, Last Night at The Proms, An Evening with Fred Dibnah and the voice of Dr Hook, Dennis Locorriere.

Kicking off in February and destined to live forever is the highly-charged musical Fame, direct from a record-breaking run in the West End.

Nominated for two Olivier awards, the show has received rave reviews.

Following the musical theme, Toyah Willcox storms the stage next as Calamity Jane in the highly-acclaimed production of the Hollywood hit. Touring for its second season, the production has been nominated for the best musical in the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.

The Hobbit concludes the whirlwind of big-stage productions.

Drama fans are well-served with the chance to save 25pc by booking seats for Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men with Matthew Kelly and George Costigan, Double Double, a thriller with Jonathon Morris (Bread) and Sabrina Fanklyn (Keep it in the Family), Noises Off, traditional farce starring Paul Bradley (EastEnders) and Love and Marriage, a bittersweet comedy starring Adam Faith.

Dance lovers are catered for when Moscow Ballet performs Don Quixote in March, while in April, Arc Dance will present a contemporary version of Hamlet. Seventies' fans get a taste of the past in Boogie Nights, a musical starring Sam Kane, Sophie Lawrence and Jonny Regan packed with hits from the decade.

In February, the arts centre looks forward to the provocative and challenging comedy of Mark Thomas, the lighter side of humour with Ed Byrne and the production which likely puts back Anglo French relations by 50 years - Le best of Priorite a Gauche.

Kaos Theatre presents Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest as its never been seen before, while Steve Steen, from Whose Line is it Anyway, recalls Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island after a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Festival.

Midge Ure, Joe Brown and Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers bring up the musical rear, while youngsters can look forward to Alice, Why Do Bees Buzz and Tales from a Treehouse.

For ticket information, call 01325 486555. Fay Nayman