Premier season for the new year

The Palace Theatre, Newark, is showing its commitment to bringing the best in live entertainment to the local community with its new packed programme of events.

The new brochure has something for everyone and is full of music and theatre.

The season begins with a return visit by the ELO Experience on January 18, paying tribute to all the great hits of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra.

It continues with A Viennese Strauss Gala, now being staged on January 20 instead of January 12, featuring some of the great operettas from the Strauss family, include Die Fledermaus and The Merry Widow.

One of the highlights is a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream on February 14 and 15, giving children a chance to see a Shakespearean production for the first time.

Steve Steinman, from Newark, returns to the Palace with The Meat Loaf Story on February 28, while Joseph Lee Jackson, also from Newark, dons the guise of Freddy Mercury for an evening of Queen music with his band, Mercury, on March 8.

Ballet Theatre UK return with a production of Alice In Wonderland on April 18, while The Manfreds, fronted by Paul Jones, who sings and plays harmonica, will perform tracks from the album, The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann, on March 6.

Other shows to watch out for are Jackson Live on February 2, a tribute to the music of the late Michael Jackson; The Chuckle Brothers Meet The Phantom At The Theatre on February 16; The Karpenters on March 2; and a tribute to Patsy Cline featuring performances from Sandy Kelly and George Hamilton IV on April 5.

Business manager Carys Coulton-Jones, said: “I am delighted with the variety of shows we are able to offer our audience as we move into 2013.

“Once again, I feel that we are able to offer something for everyone with this new season and already we have seen these shows warmly welcomed by our customers.

“We look forward to welcoming the community to the theatre in the new year.”