The distant Beatle Benn blows through

The award-winning production Let’s Hang On – at Preston Charter Theatre on Friday October 24 – takes audiences on a journey through the prolific career of one of the most successful bands ever.

From the beginnings in the early 50s, the show roams through hits such as Beggin’, Grease, Bye Bye Baby, Sherry, Take My Eyes Off You, December 1963 (Oh What a Night!), Working My Way Back To You, Walk Like A Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and many more, climaxing with a spectacular finale of the show’s title song.

Having last year been invited to the Royal Albert Hall by Frankie Valli himself, the producers of this show have revamped it with new sound, lighting and video screens.

Mitch Benn claims he is the 37th Beatle. Find out why at The Dukes in Lancaster on Saturday October 25.

Benn is not only one of the most sought-after comics on circuit he is also widely renowned as one of the best writer/performers of comic songs in the country.

His new show combines his Scouse upbringing with his love of music and a lifelong obsession with Liverpool’s most famous sons.

Benn has established himself as a club headliner and writer and performer on national TV and radio.

The award-winner has also released several albums, toured extensively abroad and is a past winner of the Best New Comic award at the Glastonbury Festival, where he has played ever since.

Recommended for anyone aged 16+. Call 01524 598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org

A new production of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer prize-winning Cat On A Hot Tin Roof arrives at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre fromOctober 23 to November 29.

Directing this bold new staging is James Dacre, and it features original music by Charle Cave from award-winning band White Lies.

Brimming with emotional intensity, this powerful family drama sees Maggie the Cat and her husband Brick return to his home on the night of patriarch and cotton tycoon Big Daddy’s 65th birthday.

Life-altering secrets are revealed and tensions explode as they scramble to secure their part of his inheritance.

The cast includes Ian Charleson Award nominee Charles Aitken, Olivier award nominee Kim Criswell, Victoria Elliott (whose TV credits include Hebburn) as Mae, Charleson Award winner Mariah Gale and Daragh O’Malley, best known for his role in TV series Sharpe, as Big Daddy.

Box Office: 0161 833 9833 or www.royalexchange.co.uk.

The Beautiful Warmth, a new play by Adam Gilmour, is at Waterside Arts Centre from Thursday October 30 to Saturday November 1.

The show was commissioned by Waterside in March this year, where Gilmour won the To The Stage competition run by Creative Industries Trafford. As well as securing a three-night run he also won £3,000 to produce the play. Since being commissioned, Adam has gone on to secure funding through Arts Council England, and founded his own production company, Check Shirt Theatre Co.

The Beautiful Warmth is a dark comedy, exploring the relationships between humanity, consumerism, and the desire for professional success.

Set in 1989 in the small Lancashire town of Whitworth, the play follows the exploits of two fireplace salesmen. Tasked with securing the last remaining house in town, the two race against each other to land the most important sale of their lives.

Adam developed the script under the mentorship of award-winning actor and dramaturg Wyllie Longmore.

For more see watersideartscentre.co.uk.