LITTLE Miss Sunshine, Amelie the Musical, Michael Palin and some Strictly hunks are all heading for Bradford this spring/summer season.

The highlight of the Alhambra programme is Les Miserables, a spectacular new staging hailed ‘Les Mis for the 21st Century’. With scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, the haunting score includes I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home, One Day More and Master Of The House.

There are new shows at the Alhambra too, including Amélie The Musical, based on the much loved film about an imaginative dreamer who finds her voice, discovers the power of connection and sees possibilities around every corner.

Based on the Oscar-winning film, Little Miss Sunshine is a new musical comedy about the chaotic Hoover family. The road to happiness is a bumpy ride, but young Olive has her heart set on winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant....

Also at the Alhambra is Michael Palin Live on Stage - Erebus, Python and Other Stories, and Let It Be, packed with over 40 Beatles hits.

Former X Factor finalist Luke Friend, who trained in Shipley, and Tom Milner, star of Waterloo Road and The Voice, who went to Stardom performing arts school in Shelf, star in Green Day’s explosive rock musical American Idiot, returning to the UK to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

And other Alhambra shows include Educating Rita, Willy Russell’s comedy starring Stephen Tomkinson; the stage musical of Ghost, featuring evergreen classic Unchained Melody and music by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics; and Matthew Bourne’s new show Romeo and Juliet.

For younger audiences there’s Horrible Histories Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians

Over at St George’s Hall, a packed summer season includes a Gala Celebration weekend in June celebrating the re-opening of the historic venue. As reported in today’s T&A, a Night of Variety show will be headlined by singer Beverley Knight and the weekend also includes The People’s Music Hall event, celebrating Bradford’s home-grown talent in music, dance and song.

The show Strictly fans have been waiting for is heading for St George’s Hall. Here Come The Boys stars three of the show’s biggest stars - Aljaž Škorjanec, Giovanni Pernice and Gorka Marquez. Calm down, ladies!

A packed season of music at St George’s Hall includes the new-look Wet Wet Wet, featuring former Liberty X singer Kevin Simm; folk queen Kate Rusby; Wannabe - The Spice Girls Show; Whitney Queen of the Night; former Smokie frontman Chris Norman; One Night of Queen, performed by Gary Mullen and The Works; and the West End Bhangra Musical.

Bringing stand-up to the stage are Reginald D Hunter, Danny Baker and Bradford favourite Billy Pearce, with his adults-only comedy show.

There’s more comedy at The Studio, with Jerry Sadowitz, Adam Riches and The Chef Show, described as part comedy play, part cookery demonstration, going behind the scenes on a busy Saturday night at a curry house.

At King’s Hall in Ilkley there are laughs from rising comic Tom Stade and music in My Leonard Cohen with Stewart D’Arrietta, and PJ Proby - The Farewell Tour with special guests Sounds of the Fortunes and The Revolvers.

Adam Renton, General Manager Bradford Theatres says: “With an array of exciting shows taking place at all four of our venues, there’s something for everyone. At the Alhambra Les Misérables will take up residency in July for five weeks - the only Yorkshire dates on the tour. We welcome back Matthew Bourne and Willy Russell’s Educating Rita. Other personalities and performers at St George’s Hall and King’s Hall include Kate Rusby, PJ Proby, Reginald D Hunter, Billy Pearce, Danny Baker and James Acaster.

l Tickets for all shows are on (01274) 432000.

Emma Clayton