WEST End stars, popular pantomimes and award-winning tribute acts are just some of the cultural treats in store at a County Durham theatre.

The Empire Theatre and Cinema in Consett is gearing up for an action-packed autumn/winter season of live music, theatre, comedy and more.

Music fans can look forward to performances by artists such as Marty and the Wildcats who will take to the stage on Saturday, 15 September. With a career spanning 60 years, Marty was a key figure in Rock ‘n’ Roll’s formative years and will perform his many hits, plus magical songs from the era. Tickets cost £21.

Other stars lined up to entertain include X Factor winner and musical theatre star Joe McElderry on Saturday, 10 November; the Brit Award-winning vocal trio Blake on Thursday, 22 November; and soul legends The Drifters on Friday, 15 March.

Tribute acts include T-Rextasy on Friday, 21 September; UK Pink Floyd Experience on Saturday, 6 October; and Sweet Caroline, featuring Gary Ryan as Neil Diamond, on Saturday, 20 October.

Theatre lovers will be rolling in the aisle when Dirty Dusting comes to the Empire on Saturday, January 26. Starring Crissy Rock, of Benidorm and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, this heart-warming comedy follows three cleaning ladies who set up an adult chat line in a bid to earn some extra cash. Tickets cost £21 or £20 for concessions.

Other highlights include the Russian National Ballet’s Swan Lake on Saturday, 3 November; Britain’s Got Talent winner The Lost Voice Guy on Sunday, 21 October; and This is The Greatest Show, a musical extravaganza featuring a cast of West End singers performing songs from popular musicals on Tuesday, 18 September.

Productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, meanwhile, will be broadcast live from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Empire’s cinema screen. These include The Merry Wives of Windsor on Wednesday, 12 September and Troilus and Cressida on Wednesday, 14 November.

West End shows will also be screened including Funny Girl -The Musical on Wednesday, 24 November and The King and I on Thursday, 6 December.

Children and the young at heart will love Milkshake Live! – a fun-filled musical about a funky monkey who will entertain audiences on Saturday, 2 March.

Those who cannot wait that long can see the festive classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens brought to life on Friday, 23 November.

And it just would not be Christmas without a pantomime so why not take the children to see Beauty and the Beast. The Empire has teamed up with actress and pantomime producer Leah Bell for the magical production, which runs from Saturday, 1 December to Monday, 31 December. Tickets cost £16 or £14 for concessions, and a family ticket for two adults and two children costs £52.

Nicola Dailly, arts programme manager at the Empire Theatre and Cinema, said: “Tribute bands, musicals, live theatre, Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneers - as you can see we have a packed programme in store. With so much variety on offer, I’m sure there will be something to suit all tastes and ages.”

The full programme is now available online at www.empireconsett.co.uk

Tickets are available via the website or by calling 03000 262 400.