On Friday February 26 and Saturday February 27, Showaddywaddy invite you to an Evening of Rock and Roll as they turn back the clock to the 1970s and perform hits including 'Three Steps To Heaven', 'Heartbeat; and near-million seller 'Under The Moon Of Love'.

The group have been going for 35 years now and have spent a total of 209 weeks in the UK singles charts. Tickets for what is sure to be a thoroughly entertaining evening are £20.

Another journey to the past comes courtesy of the The Searchers who roll into town on Saturday May 22.

With such classic tracks as 'Sweets For My Sweet', 'Needles and Pins', 'Don't Throw Your Love Away' and 'When You Walk In The Room', the band established themselves as a firm favourite worldwide and continue to tour the globe today.

They have racked up five decades in the music industry and their concert at the Playhouse will include all of their famous hits, plus popular album tracks and B-sides. Tickets are priced at £16.50/£15.50 concessions.

Country music wouldn't be country music without a certain buxom blonde, and Alnwick Playhouse is paying its own tribute with 'The Dolly Parton Story' on Friday April 23 at 7.30pm.

Stepping into the boots of Ms Parton is Andrea Pattison and she will be backed by a live five piece band. Expect to hear the likes of '9 to 5' and 'Coat of Many Colours' over the course of the evening.

Other musical highlights include performances award-winning Filska (April 6), top fiddle player Tom McConville (March 19) and the New London Chamber (February 12).

Laughter will be ringing round the Playhouse on Saturday April 3, when comedian Phil Cool calls in for an Easter stand-up show and also on Saturday, April 17, when Fiona Knowles will become three 'Women Behaving Madly'.

Thres's a big emphasis on local talent for the Playhouse's new programme with Duchess' High School at the fore. They will kick things off on Wednesday, February 3, with their 'Spring Variety Show'- a celebration of the school's musical excellence. The family-friendly event will feature the school's three choirs and two bands.

And they will be back from Wednesday March 24-March 27 with their 'High School Musical', an electrifying musical production.

Another local group getting in on the action are the Alnwick Stage Musical Society with 'High Society' from Tuesday March 9-March 13. The show, originally by Cole Porter, is a champagne-fuelled story of upper class dealings and frivolous celebration and tickets are £8/£7 concessions.

And the kids get their chance to shine when the Alnwick Playhouse Youth Theatre take to the stage with 'Yee Ha'.

The show is lively and fun-packed and squeezes all the fun and adventure of the old west into a wonderfully wild, sparkling musical comedy.

For information and ticket prices for all shows in the Spring Programme ring (01665) 510785, visit www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk or e-mail info@alnwickplayhouse.co.uk.