Coventry's Warwick Arts Centre has revealed an extensive programme of exciting shows and entertaining performances for spring/summer 2024.

Some of the best comedians around are gearing up to bring their latest hit shows to the venue this year. These include Frankie Boyle on Tuesday 6 February; Aurie Styla on Saturday 3 February; podcasting pioneer Richard Herring on Thursday 14 March; Brum legend Frank Skinner on Sunday 12 May; John Kearns on Sunday 19 May and Ria Lina on Wednesday 29 May. Warwickshire's own comedy stars - Josh Pugh on Friday 16 February and Guz Khan on Saturday 24 February, also feature - as do Alex ‘Taskmaster’ Horne’s The Horne Section (pictured below) on Tuesday 18 June.

Chipping Norton celebrity farmer Kaleb Cooper will present his views on everything from farm animals to Jeremy Clarkson on Saturday 3 February, while Lucy Worsley explores the life of crime writer Agatha Christie on Friday 16 February. Former Sex Pistol John Lydon (pictured below) reflects on his colourful life on Friday 10 May.

There's also loads for families to discover, including a classic Big Fish Little Fish rave with DJ Bobby Friction on Sunday 28 January and My First Concert on Thursday 15 February and Thursday 30 May.  Adaptations of popular picture books such as We're Going On A Bear Hunt (Saturday 10 to Tuesday 13 February - pictured) and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Charlie Cook's Favourite Book (Thursday  4 to Sunday 7 April) also feature.

Dance fans should check out James Wilton Dance's LORE - a folklore inspired journey into a pagan world of gods, demons and humans on Tuesday 30 January. Then there's Ad Infinitum Productions' much lauded Beautiful Evil Things (pictured)  - a comic and thrilling take on the Trojan War, from Tuesday 14 to Wednesday 15 May. Ephemeral Ensemble's Rewind which draws on the science of Forensic Anthropology to piece together a crime secretly buried using music, movement, puppetry, projection and lighting shows on Tuesday 30 April.

Inspiring concerts range from classical guitar superstar Miloš Karadaglić on Saturday 9 March and orchestral power-house The Hallé on Friday 10 May, to the celebratory The John Martyn Project on Saturday 17 January and Afrofuturist/jazz musician Camilla George (pictured) on Friday 1 March. There are also appearances from reunited indie folk band Stornoway on Wednesday 14 February, singer-songwriter Jake Bugg on Sunday 28 April and soon-to-be-retiring '80s soul legend Alexander O'Neal on Sunday 19 May. Fleetwood Mac-approved Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac play at the venue on Wednesday 15 May.

Warwick Arts Centre’s commitment to free activities and events also continues with the increasingly popular Jazz Fridays gigs from Friday 5 January; Mini Creatives sessions for 0-4 year-olds from Tuesday 9 January; Workshop Wednesdays from Wednesday 10 January and drop-in Family Sundays from Sunday 14 January. Songwriting workshops, musical picnics and the Mead Gallery’s adventurous modern/contemporary art show, Phantom Sculpture also feature. Showing until Sunday 10 March 2024, the exhibition re-opens with several exciting new additions - including works by Barbara Hepworth, Phyllida Barlow, and Turner Prize 2022 winner, Veronica Ryan.

Over in Warwick Arts Centre’s plush three cinema screens, visitors can expect the best Hollywood blockbusters, latest art house releases, enticing documentaries and classic revivals. Among the movies coming up are Sofia Coppola's Elvis-related biopic Priscilla, Denis Villeneuve's eagerly anticipated epic Dune: Part 2, Emma Stone-starring Poor Things (pictured), and Anthony Hopkins’ One Life, which tells the dramatic true story of the ‘Kindertransport’ operation. There’s also streamed specials that give you unprecedented access to some of the best performances and exhibitions in New York, London and beyond with NT Live, Met Opera and Exhibition On Screen.

Of the new season, Doreen Foster, Warwick Art Centre’s Director, said: “We have another packed programme of events and activities lined up to keep you entertained and talking including a raft of famous faces. There’s also lots for younger visitors, including the latest theatre adaptation based on a book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and we continue to ensure there’s plenty of free activities too - from art activities to performances.”

For information on all upcoming events, visit warwickartscentre.co.uk