Q: WHERE will you find a dancing welder, a tragic movie legend, several Strictly stars and Brian Blessed next year?

A: On Bradford Theatres' stages - where hit musicals, razor-sharp comics, world-class dance companies and much-loved singers are all packed into the 2018 spring season line-up.

Flashdance the Musical returns to the Alhambra for the first time since 2011, starring last year's Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton as Alex Owens - a welder by day and a nightclub dance star by night - and A1 heart-throb and singer-songwriter Ben Adams as her love interest, Nick Hurley.

Another Strictly favourite, Danny Mac, stars in Sunset Boulevard, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award-winning masterpiece. Ria Jones, who had standing ovations every night at the London Coliseum, is fading star Norma Desmond and Danny is Joe Gillis. And Tom Chambers - also a former Strictly winner - stars in sparkling romantic comedy Crazy For You, featuring a fabulous score from the Gershwin brothers’ songbook.

Miss Saigon, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical, lands at the Alhambra next September. And making a welcome return is the National Theatre's War Horse, back for a four-week run, and smash hit show Jersey Boys, working its way back with the story of the Four Seasons through their hits including December 1963 (Oh What A Night), and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

Also back is Evita, the powerful story of Eva Perón's journey from humble beginnings to wealth, power and iconic status as ‘spiritual leader' of the Argentine people, and other musicals coming next year are Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic gothic thriller Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde starring Phil Daniels; 20th Century Boy, celebrating the life of Marc Bolan and glam rock; and Menopause The Musical, starring Maureen Nolan.

Dance fans are in for a treat, with Canada’s Ballet British Columbia presenting an exhilarating programme by three internationally-celebrated female choreographers and Strictly favourites Anton du Beke and Erin Boag celebrating a decade of dance in their new show, From Broadway to Hollywood. For opera fans, Ellen Kent’s Opera Festival includes Rigoletto, La Traviata and Madame Butterfly.

There's music from Buddy Holly and The Cricketers with the English Rock 'n' Roll Orchestra and skiffle maestro Joe Brown. And the new comedy line-up includes Alun Cochrane, Dave Spikey, Mark Watson and Tim Vine, as well as evenings with Michael Portillo and larger-than-life actor Brian Blessed.

For younger theatre-goers, a new adaptation of David Walliams' Awful Auntie - a tale of frights, fights and friendship, featuring a large owl, a small ghost and a very awful Aunt - rolls into Ilkley's King's Hall.

This year saw the Alhambra win UK Theatre Awards' Most Welcoming Theatre Yorkshire and The Humber. Adam Renton, general manager Bradford Theatres said: "We're very much looking forward to our exciting spring 2018 season, packed full of some of the best touring shows. Following customer feedback, we have undertaken refurbishment works to the Alhambra’s foyer, stage and auditorium to improve customers’ experience when visiting us.

"The box office counter in the foyer has been refurbished to ensure services are accessible for all customers; and we have made space for additional female toilets to help reduce queuing times on show nights.

"Seating in the dress circle has been reupholstered; the safety bars in the upper circle have also been lowered to reduce viewing restrictions from certain seats on the front few rows. Finally, the stage has been fully replaced to continue to accommodate the sizeable and intricate sets from the large-scale touring productions we attract.”

* Tickets for all shows are on (01274) 432000.