TOP names from the world of music are heading for the Beggar's Theatre as part of its new season programme.

The Millom theatre's 2020 line-up includes Mari Wilson: The Pop Deluxe Tour on February 20, featuring songs from all Mari's albums including 1982's Showpeople through to 2016's Pop Deluxe and a few unusual surprises.

Also coming up is award-winning singer and musical theatre star Patti Boulaye with her new one-woman show Aretha and Me. Patti's tribute to the Queen of soul Aretha Franklin plays Beggar's Theatre on March 6.

Another must-see show promises to be multi-million selling soul band The Real Thing on March 14, featuring the group’s two original vocalists Chris Amoo and Dave Smith, along with their five-piece band, celebrating more than 45 years in the music industry and performing the band’s classic songs mixed with contemporary grooves.

And another one of the five star 2020 shows will be from the sensational soulful voices of The Three Degrees playing the Millom venue on October 10.

Beggar's Theatre artistic director Jakki Moore says that with big names such as The Real Thing and The Three Degrees coming to Millom, it is exciting times indeed: "Our aim with this programme is to offer the best variety for the whole community," adds Jakki. "Not just one genre, comedy but live music be that tribute acts or the real deal; still bringing in the top acts, theatre for adults and theatre for kids and families, workshops for schools, we are hoping to widen our audience even further. We already attract many audience members from out of Cumbria even and I think that this programme will build that even more."

Meanwhile, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican bring their Winter Woollies Tour to Beggar's Theatre tonight (8pm).

Hailing from Barnsley Rock City, the anarchic comedy folk band have a talent for what they describe as "Bar-Stewardizing" other famous people’s songs with new comedy lyrics, on acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, accordion, keyboard, keytar, and the world’s first synthesiser ukulele.

Among the excellent entertainment pencilled in for December is Beauty and the Beast (December 4), a top tale as old as time.

The Beggar's Theatre box office 01229-775677.