STAND-UP comedy with Peter Kay and Ken Dodd and performances by Birmingham Royal Ballet and Welsh National Opera are just some of the highlights of the new Birmingham Hippodrome season.

Treats for youngsters include Peter Rabbit and his friends and pantomime Aladdin.

The season will also see Three Degrees star Sheila Ferguson making her debut in hit musical Oh! What a Night and the first UK performances of Ballet Grigorovich.

The acclaimed West End and Broadway production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast continues its 10-week run until Saturday, August 10, followed by Bill Kenwright's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from Monday, August 19, to Saturday, August 31.

Far From The Madding Crowd runs from Wednesday, October 9, until Saturday, October 12, and features Bathsheba Everdene who is thrown into country life when she inherits a farm and stubbornly rejects offers of help - and more - from dependable Gabriel Oak.

Strauss's Die Fledermaus, sung in English, is being staged on Tuesday, October 15, Thursday, October 17, and Saturday, October 19, with Puccini's Tosca on Wednesday, October 16, and Friday, October 18.

And Flying Music presents an impressive line-up of the biggest stateside 60s rock 'n' roll stars in The All American Solid Gold Rock 'n' Roll Show on Wednesday, October 23, including Bobby Vee, Chris Montez and The Chiffons.

Other productions include Blood Brothers, Rock 'n' Roll Heaven and a show by the Dream Boys.