Eighties chart-toppers The Human League, Phoenix Nights star Dave Spikey, movie actor Steven Berkhoff and comics Lenny Henry and Rob Brydon are some of the top names in music, drama and comedy appearing in Bradford theatres this autumn.

Some stars appearing, such as singer Jane McDonald and boogie-woogie maestro Jools Holland, were scheduled to appear during the 2003 autumn season at St George's Hall but their shows were cancelled when the venue was closed for vital re-structuring work.

The Alhambra's new season starts with one of the world's most successful shows, Miss Saigon. Cameron Mackintosh's new production of the love story set against the Vietnam war has a two-month run from August.

An Alhambra spokesman said Miss Saigon had taken more than £750,000 in ticket sales. More than 4,000 seats have been reserved, equating to almost £133,000. He said: "We have an incredible range of entertainment coming in the next few months. There's something for everyone: a West End blockbuster, superb ballet, drama, opera, comedy, pop and rock."

Cole Porter's classic musical High Society is a giddy blend of fizzing songs and champagne-fuelled farce, starring Susie Blake (Bev Unwin in Coronation Street).

One of the Britain's maverick theatrical talents, Steven Berkoff, offers an insight on the Bard with one-man show Shakespeare's Villains, featuring characters like Iago, the Macbeths, Shylock and Richard III.

Following a critically-acclaimed West End run, Lenny Henry's So Much Things To Say tackles the subjects of parents, love, sex, war and reggae music.

Family favourite Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns, while there's inspiring drama with Arthur Miller's award-winning The Price, starring Warren Mitchell and Larry Lamb, and moving First World War drama Journey's End, starring Darling Buds of May actor Philip Franks.

Northern Ballet Theatre presents I Got Rhythm, set to Gershwin's best-loved songs, and there's more dance from the Russian Cossack State Dance Company's folklore spectacular and The Russian State Ballet of Siberia's Sleeping Beauty.

There are shows from two Bradford amateur theatre companies; Stage 84 presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's haunting Jesus Christ Superstar, and Bradford Catholic Players perform circus musical Barnum.

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus, this year's pantomime is Dick Whittington, starring Yorkshire funnyman Billy Pearce, Paul Usher, (Brookside bad boy Barry Grant), Fame Academy's Carolynne Good and Calendar newsgirl Faye Barker.

Over at St George's Hall, the comedy kicks off with Jim Davidson at his most x-rated. Dave Spikey, star and co-writer of Channel 4's hit Phoenix Nights, headlines a testimonial show for former Bradford Bulls player Jimmy Lowes, and one of Britain's most inventive comedians Boothby Graffoe presents his surreal stand-up and songs.

Al Murray, recently seen with Gordon Ramsay on ITV's Hells' Kitchen, presents The Pub Landlord - Giving It Both Barrels; Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson brings his outrageous new show, and award-winning Rob Brydon, star of BBC2's hit series Marion and Geoff, plays the hapless chauffeur in The Keith Barret Show - Live. And Ken Dodd celebrates 50 years in showbiz.

Eighties pop-synth superstars The Human League perform their greatest hits, and there's music from hard rockers Whitesnake; the Finn Brothers - Neil and Tim Finn of New Zealand bands Crowded House and Split Enz; Elkie Brooks; Sixties crooner Gene Pitney; and Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

Musical theatre favourite Gary Wilmot performs songs from shows and there are concerts by Jane McDonald; Denise Leigh and Jane Gilchrist, the winners of Channel 4's Operatunity; Africa's Number One-selling recording group Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Irish rock band The Saw Doctors; Aled Jones, and top Abba tribute band Bjorn Again.

Other treats include Willard White's tribute to Paul Robeson; Reelin'-and-a-Rockin' featuring Sixties legends Dave Dee, Mike Pender and Brian Poole; Irish country singer Dominic Kirwan; A Glenn Miller Centenary Tribute Orchestra; music hall extravaganza Those Were The Days; The Kings of Swing; and Indian sitar artist Gaurav Mazumdar, and the Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Cricketing legends Jonathan Agnew, Chris Cowdrey and Mike Gatting present Sticky Wicket, an evening of anecdotes, and there's spiritualism from blind Irish medium Sharon Neill.

For youngsters there is Andy Pandy and Bill and Ben; Engie Benjy; The Borrowers; poet Brian Patten Gargling With Jelly, and James Campbell's Stand-up Comedy 4 Kids.

l Amateur shows include DM Academy's music and dance spectacular It's A Kind of Magic, Christmas Magic, the Festival of Remembrance; Thornton Vocal Union's Christmas Concert and Bradford Festival Choral Society's Traditional Family Christmas Concert.

l For tickets and more information ring (01274) 432000.

e-mail: emma.clayton

@bradford.newsquest.co.uk