THERE is plenty of first class entertainment coming up at The Forum.

The latest added to the 2019 programme is a five star family offering, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, playing the Barrow theatre from April 9-11.

Straight from its West End run, director Sally Cookson’s fun-filled and inventive adaptation is set to Benji Bower’s versatile lively score with plenty of catchy songs, interactive scenes, adventure and a few surprises along the way.

Based on the much-loved book picture by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, the mischievous celebration of play is a top treat for families with children aged from three upwards.

The show puts an intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog on a quest to find a bear: wading through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud.

Performances are at 2pm on Tuesday, April 9; 11am and 2pm on Wednesday and Thursday, April 10/11.

Meanwhile, for those enjoying the luscious Caribbean island landscapes of Saint Marie in the new BBC One series of Death in Paradise, lead Ardal O'Hanlon is bringing his own The Showing Off Must Go On stage show to The Forum on Friday, March 8.

In the television whodunnit, Ardal plays friendly and unassuming, DI Jack Mooney, often underestimated. However, beneath the Irish charm there’s a genius detective at work.

Ardal is one of the nation's comic treasures and has a wonderful engaging innocence. He has also starred in Father Ted and My Hero. His role as Father Dougal McGuire in Father Ted in 1995 landed him firmly in the spotlight for which he received the Top TV Comedy Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards.

Still to come at The Forum is the Reg Vardy Brass Band performing an afternoon show on Sunday, March 3 (3pm). One of the most successful brass bands in history having won the Northern Regional Championships more times than any other brass band in the country, they are also the only north east band to have competed in every major UK competition as well as the World Championships in Kerkrade, and they consistently feature in the World Brass Band Rankings top 20.

Box office 01229-820000.