LIGHTHOUSE, Poole’s Centre for the Arts, has an autumn programme bursting with everything from powerful drama, breathtaking circus and side-splitting comedy to exhilarating dance, inspiring music and enchanting family shows.

The season begins with three powerful productions – Speechless, We Are Three Sisters and Turn Back The Clock – followed by some outstanding examples of English theatre at its best, starting in November with Equus and continuing with Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream and MacBeth – in November and February respectively.

Family musical Annie is one of the early highlights. With a memorable score, including classics such as It’s A Hard Knock Life and To-morrow the hilarious Su Pollard leads a star cast.

The programme for families and young people goes from strength to strength with the return of the Birmingham Stage Company with two different Horrible Histories shows, adapting both Awful Egyptians and Ruthless Romans for the theatre.

There is also a smelly rendezvous with Mr Stink – based on Little Britain star David Walliams’s best-selling book – while the new year sees highly acclaimed New Forest company Forest Forge bring its magical version of the children’s classic The Phoenix and the Carpet to the Studio.

In December Lighthouse present Cinderella featuring two real life Shetland ponies in the fabulous cast!

Lighthouse resident artist Niki McCretton and her Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company present a fun and quirky retelling of The Hare and the Tortoise for really little ones in November.

Last year’s Carte Blanche contemporary circus season is back, with the return of Ockham’s Razor with a triple-bill of daring physical aerial theatre, alongside new visitors Cirque Du Ciel from China, with the internationally acclaimed production Shanghai touring the UK for the first time.

Music highlights include Rolling Stones legend Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings, guitarist John Mayall, singers Eliza Cathy and Sarah Jane Morris, not to mention a visit from Lee “Memphis” King presenting One Night of Elvis.

There’s also plenty of comedy with another brilliant line-up of top stand-ups including Jimmy Carr, Shappi Khorsandi, Jo Caulfield and Sarah Millican.

Award-winning dancer and choreographer Shaun Parker from Australia visits this month with the explosive Happy As Larry, while Moscow City Ballet return in February with performances of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

Other season highlights include another Big Sing, also this month, when choirs and individual singers can become part of a massed choir performing Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and players from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of BSC Music Director, Gavin Carr.

For tickets and more details telephone 0844 406 8666 or go online at lighthousepoole.co.uk.