As Warwick Arts Centre prepares to reopen this autumn, the venue has announced a series of events as part of its next season.

Lauded choreographer and director Sir Matthew Bourne OBE is back with a much-anticipated new production.

Exploring the underbelly of 1930s London, The Midnight Bell (Nov 10-13) is inspired by the work of writer Patrick Hamilton as a lonely-hearts club gather in a Soho pub to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart. A world premiere from Bourne and the New Adventures company.

A timely study on the creation, allure and implications of 'fake news' and 'alternative facts', Rhum And Clay's The War Of The Worlds (Oct 13-16) skilfully reimagines Orson Welles' famed 1938 radio adaption of HG Wells' alien invasion saga – a pre-war broadcasting landmark which prompted US listeners to believe they were witnessing a real Martian attack! Could the media savvy internet generation of today be that susceptible?

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Mercury Prize-nominated contemporary jazz trio GoGo Penguin (Oct 28) perform music from 2020's self-titled GoGo Penguin (which has spawned this year's radical GGP/RMX remix collection). Combining jazz with electronica, the Mancunian's are iconic label Blue Note's biggest ever selling instrumental group!

George Hinchliffe's all-singing, all-strumming Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (Nov 14) have launched a musical revolution; their toe-tapping and charming arrangements of everything from classical masterpieces to pop and rock smashes are uplifting, surprising and always entertaining.

Also lined up for the reopening season are songwriter John Grant (Oct 1), whose fifth solo album, Boy From Michigan, recently hit the UK Top 10; controversial Britain's Got Talent 2020 finalist Nabil Abdulrashid (Oct 9); trip hop pioneer and ever-evolving artist Tricky (Nov 3); and The Tiger Who Came To Tea (Oct 26-28), the Olivier Award-nominated adaptation of Judith Kerr's family favourite.

Got an event planned? Why not advertise it for free on our What's On page?

There's also multiple appearances from some of the biggest names in UK comedy, including Sarah Millican (Oct 21-24), Alan Carr (Nov 26-27), and Jimmy Carr (Dec 21-23).

Discussing the announcement, Warwick Arts Centre's director, Doreen Foster, said: "We can't wait to welcome visitors back to the Arts Centre. We've got a great line-up of inspiring shows - from boundary pushing innovators to much loved family classics - but these are just the start. We'll be revealing more over the coming months, including our events for the Coventry2021 programme, and a chance to take a look around our transformed home before it fully opens."

Following a major four-year transformation, Warwick Arts Centre is set to reopen on Friday 1 October 2021. The redevelopment, the largest in its 48 year history, combines extensive upgrades of existing spaces with spacious new areas, including a more welcoming foyer, three new cinemas, a repositioned Mead Gallery, and new restaurant.

Tickets for selected performances are on sale now. To book, and find out more, contact Warwick Arts Centre Box Office via [email protected], or click here to visit the website.

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