LIVELY, up-beat and funky are the words to sum up the coming season at the Arc in Stockton.

With a new artistic director, Michele Plews, concentrating on exciting theatre, and a programmer, Stuart Bowes, dealing with music, comedy and cinema, the venue is going all out to overcome its initial problems.

An air of optimism is spearheaded by the managing director, Mr Bernard Lanz, who set about this year formulating a rescue package to fulfill the building's potential.

It will certainly play a prominent part in Stockton international riverside festival from July 28 to August 6, being turned into a huge East End pub when Chas 'n' Dave take over the Point.

Festival dates for jazz fans include a shared bill by guitarist, Martin Taylor, and double bass player, Eddie Gomez; and the folk-rock-indie musicians, Martin Stephenson and The Daintees, have a Stockton stopover on their 2000 tour.

The comedian, Jeff Green, who has had his own TV show, has a festival slot with music by The Spidermen.

The Bruvvers, a Newcastle-based company which presented last year's pantomime, bring a summer show for children, See You Later Alligator, and are already booked to present Babes in the Wood over Christmas. The Singing Ringing Tree from August 2-5 is a piece of fantasy theatre aimed at families involving mime and audience participation.

A festival highlight will be the launch of new club nights every Friday with parties running until 2am. Regular salsa nights start on August 12

Modern Life, recently voted one of the best nights out in the country in Newcastle, joins the Teesside line-up; other performers include Pleasure Beach, Tom Caulker, Shed 7, Baby Birds and The Complete Stone Roses.

Drama this month includes The Provok'd Wife, Vanburgh's Restoration comedy, presented by Art youth theatre tonight and tomorrow; and The Devil in Drag, a camp, outrageous romp performed by Stockton VI Form next weekend.

Later in the season, playwrite and author John Mortimer gives an evening of readings from his own works in Mortimer's Miscellany (September 10) and there is an anarchic interpretation of history in Six Dead Queens ... and an inflatable Henry, which takes place on a large bed (September 16).

The Turning Point theatre company stages The Tameness of a Wolf, about mental illness, in October, followed by a new play by Roger Harvey, Money, Money, Money, with cabaret singer, Eileen Glenton, playing three characters in this one-woman show.

The award-winning Compass theatre company brings its adaptation of Dickens' Hard Times in November; My Mother Said I Never Should, detailing the lives of four women through the immense social changes of the 20th century, is also billed that month.

Music dates include Lindisfarne, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Tom Hingley and Chris Helme; Lonnie Donegan features in A Full Head of Steam celebrating the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton to Darlington railway, and Teesside music society returns to the Arc in October to perform a programme including Bach and Beethoven.

Details of the full programme can be obtained on 01642 666600 and brochures are available at all the normal outlets.