BEAUTY and the Beast is just one of the shows coming up in Halifax this autumn. Joining Dame Adam Stafford and comic Josh Benson at the Victoria Theatre from December 14 to January 5 are Jenny Perry in the title role and Richard Anthony-Lloyd as her father.

Richard has links to Halifax after playing rugby union with Keighley against every Halifax club over the past 15 years. Jenny has played every panto role - principal boy, fairy and villain - except the princess.

The Russian State Ballet and Opera House returns to the Victoria Theatre to perform The Nutcracker on November 19. The family show shows what happens after a sad little girl is given a Nutcracker as a Christmas Eve present, which turns into a prince who does battle with the Mouse King in a snowbound wonderland.

The Victoria Theatre will host Dave Gorman as he opens the popular annual Halifax Comedy Festival on October 18 with his latest show. Festival family shows include Javier Jarquin – The Card Ninja on October 19, Jay Foreman with his Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children on October 20, and Jeddy Bear and Gary on October 26.

Award-winning Yorkshire poet Andrew McMillan has written his first stage play which is set to premiere at Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax, on Tuesday October 15. Dorian is a re-telling of Oscar Wilde’s classic The Picture of Dorian Gray and is presented by Huddersfield’s Proper Job Theatre Company.

A tired, middle-aged man sets out to change his life and get the body of his dreams; he hires a personal trainer and signs up to a six-month transformational programme, but things start to unrave.

Anjali Dance Company, which has dancers with learning disabilities, will present the double-bill Genius at the Square Chapel on October 24. One part, Bloodsucker, is based on the legend of the vampire Nosferatu and his depiction in the 1922 silent movie, and the other, Beethoven, looks at the composer’s extraordinary personal life and musical works through touching and darkly humorous short sketches.

Edele Lynch from 90s pop group B*Witched stars in a new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen at the Victoria Theatre on October 27 at 2pm and 5pm. The fairytale that inspired Disney’s Frozen tells how young Kai isucted to an enchanted frozen palace and his best friend Gerda sets out to rescue him.

Visit victoriatheatre.co.uk or squarechapel.co.uk to book tickets.