Hi folks, I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Healthy and Happy New Year. I trust you will enjoy the January pantos and all other events to follow that are taking place around our area (and sometimes beyond)during 2017. Best wishes, Vicky.

ONCE again Burneside Amateur Theatrical Society (BATS) push out all the stops to bring a fantastic New Year’s panto to The Bryce. This time the exotic and sultry tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves sees us in sunny Baghdad with principal boy Ali Baba. Down on his luck for some time and in love with a slave girl Safiya, Ali despairs of his ‘lot.’ Soon, things improve for Ali when he stumbles across a cave of treasures, but unbeknown to him, Sheikh Mustafa Leikh and his band of incompetent, greedy thieves, scheme to scupper Ali’s plans. This fun, madcap show includes a delightful dancing camel, Kamil, and beloved Dame Mum Baba. The show runs from tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday and from January 11-14, at The Bryce, Burneside, Kendal. Evening performances 7.30pm. Matinees on January 7, 8 & 14 at 2pm. Box office 07792-777213.

Tickets: Adults £9; children £7.

CINDERELLA, a traditional and enchanting pantomime with a modern twist by James Barry, brought to us by Storth Entertainers and its youth arm Kids on the Bay. All our favourite characters from Cinders and her adoring sidekick Buttons, her evil stepmother, those three Ugly Sisters, a handsome Prince and not forgetting the magical Fairy Godmother that makes her wish come true. Cinderella takes place from Wednesday to Saturday (January 11-14) at 7pm, Saturday matinee at 2pm, at Storth Village Hall. Box office 015395-61565.

Tickets: Adults £8; children (under 16) £6.

GRASMERE's St Oswald's Church will host some of the most beautiful music ever created as part of The Northumbrian Music Festival: On tour. The Three English Tenors, namely Andrew Forbes Lane, Nicholas Sales and Peter Auty, and accompanied by Nicholas Ransley will raise the roof with a programme overflowing with the grandest of grand operas, excitement and fun. The concert sees the three intrepid heroes sing their way through all the great tenor arias and songs including O Sole Mio, Nessun Dorma, You Are My Heart's Delight, On The Street Where You Live and many more. The concert takes place tomorrow (Friday, 6pm) following dinner at The Wordsworth Hotel. Booking required 01668-283100.

Ticket £69

THE dynamic and innovative New Jave Trio is making its debut at Ambleside's Zeffirellis Jazz Bar, tomorrow (Friday, 8.30pm). Lancaster-based bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Jave formed the group a few years ago in order to explore his love for improvisational 'in-the-moment' music, while not being confined to any one style or genre. We can expect an eclectic blend of instrumental original and covered funk, rock, blues, African and Island, delivered with a healthy dose of imaginative improvisation. Also featuring special guest James Mackie on keyboards and saxophone. Details 015394-33845.

THE Emperor and the Nightingale by Neil Duffield, based on The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen is showing at Theatre by the Lake until January 14. This charming tale of China's young emperor Wu, who is kept a virtual prisoner in his palace by his scheming guardian and told the world outside the Forbidden City is a dangerous place. But when Xiao, a young peasant girl, tells him about the enchanting song of the nightingale, it is too much for him to resist so they embark on an adventure, but Wu has an ulterior motive that could threaten the peace of the kingdom. Featuring exquisite puppetry, glorious music in an original score and all the spectacle of Chinese theatre. Times vary so check the website. www.theatrebythelake.com/

Tickets £30 - £10.

THE Grand Theatre, at Blackpool, will take you on a mystical adventure on Aladdin's magic carpet. Join our man-of-action, Aladdin, as he confronts evil Abanazar to overturn his duplicitous plot to snaffle the mysterious lamp and win the heart of the beautiful princess - oh, and aide his mother, Widow Twanky, to get her washing done! This dazzling panto is jam-packed with music and dance, fun and laughter, bravery, love and a magic lamp. The panto stars CBeebies Barney Harwood and plays until January 8 (times vary). www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/

Adults: Band A £22.50/£16.50, Band B £22.50/£16.50, Band C £16.50.

Children: Band A £22.50/£16.50, Band B £20.50/£16.50, Band C £15.50