BRACE yourself! Daft duo Cannon and Ball are gearing up to top the bill at Blackpool Grand Theatre this summer for Comedy Bonanza 2002. Rock on Tommy!

And the local lads will be joined by musical funny men The Barron Knights and cuddly comics The Roly Polys for hopefully yet another record-breaking year.

New general manager Peter Cutchie may be a new broom, but he's keeping the tradition of variety well and truly alive at the Grand with a wide ranging programme of events planned for the new season.

Musicals and dance once again play a prominent part with big showstoppers Grease and Heaven Can Wait joined by Arc Dance, making a welcome return with emotive new piece Brothers. Then there's the exciting Africa Africa bringing Zulu dance to Blackpool.

And Blackpool Operatic Players also present Evita this year.

Opera fans can enjoy La Traviata, while ballet buffs get Cinderella and a multitude of musical one nighters take in 10cc, The Ultimate 60s Show, Joe Longthorne, the Magic Of The Musicals and a Salute to Sinatra.

Comedy king Ken Dodd returns as do the unmissable Reduced Shakespeare Company. And don't miss J B Priestley's hilarious comedy When We Are Married, the interestingly titled Five Blue Haired Ladies Sitting On A Green Park Bench and that most famous Ealing comedy, The Lavender Hill Mob.

And classic drama is not forgotten with Ibsen's Ghosts, Rope from Patrick Hamilton, Who Killed Agatha Christie? and Ira Levin's Deathtrap.

Kids can enjoy Bananas In Pyjamas, The Chuckle Brothers and a whole feast of fun in the Puppet Up! festival in May. For further information and bookings call the Grand Theatre box office on 290190.