Twelve must-see shows in 2016

Until January 24th - Jack and the Beanstal kat the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford.

Billy Pearce returns to Bradford to headline a panto that will have you rolling the aisles. This year he’s joined by John Challis (Boycey from Only Fools and Horses) and Lisa Riley.

Tickets from £27.50 (£14.50 concessions) - http://www.bradford-theatres.co.uk/

FEBRUARY

Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th - Shafted, at Theatre Royal, Wakefield

John Godber’s riotous new comedy tells the story of what happened to one couple in the 30 years following the miners’ strike of 1984.

Tickets £12 to £19. www.theatreroyalwakefield.co.uk/

MARCH

Saturday 19th - Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott at First Direct Arena, Leeds.

Former Beautiful South duo play songs from their new album Wisdom, Laughter and Lines plus classic hits.

Tickets from £28. www.firstdirectarena.com/events

APRIL

Friday 8th - Sing-a-long-a-Dirty Dancing at Sheffield Lyceum Theatre

Get your glad rags on, perfect your lifting technique and be prepared to have the time of your life with an interactive showing of this classic film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Tickets £15.50. www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

MAY

Monday May 23rd - Lucy Beaumont: We Can Twerk It Out at Hull Truck Theatre.

Hull-born comedienne Lucy Beaumont returns to familiar territory to deliver belly laughs galore in an accent every local will love.

Tickets: £14 and £10. www.hulltruck.co.uk/

JUNE

Wednesday 22nd - Lionel Richie at Sheffield Arena

The former Commodores front man rocked Glastonbury last summer and is back in the UK in June to perform all his hits.

Tickets from £44, www.sheffieldarena.co.uk/

JULY

Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th - Underneath The Stars festival at Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley

Kate Rusby will again be joined by top talent from the UK and around the world for three days of fantastic folk music.

Tickets from £135 (£70 concessions) - underthestarsfest.co.uk/

AUGUST

Friday 26th to Sunday 28th - Leeds Festival at Bramham Park

Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Courteeners and The 1975 are already confirmed for what is now established as one of the UK’s top summer festivals

Tickets £213. www.leedsfestival.com/tickets

SEPTEMBER

Sunday 4th - Sarah Millican at York Barbican Centre

The inventor of the cake shelf brings her own disarming brand of self-deprecation to the old city as part of her exhaustive UK tour.

Tickets from £28. www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/

OCTOBER

Friday 28th - The Undertones at The Picturedrome, Holmfirth.

Feargal Sharkey may have gone but Paul McLoone is a more than adequate front man for this 70s new wave band whose hits include My Perfect Cousin, Teenage Kicks and Jimmy Jimmy.

Tickets: £20. hwww.picturedrome.net/

NOVEMBER

Saturday 12th - From the Jam at Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

Bass player Bruce Foxton and his band show there’s life without Weller by reprising the A- and B-sides from some of The Jam’s biggest selling singles.

Tickets from £25.30. www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk/

DECEMBER

Friday 2nd - UK Subs at The Leopard, Doncaster

The band that bridged punk and new wave continue to live up to their reputation as the hardest gigging punk band of all time as they perform hits such as Tomorrows Girls, Warhead and She’s Not There.

Tickets £14.25. www.seetickets.com/