THE new programme for Summer 2014 at Theatre Royal Winchester kicks off with two fabulous musical dramas.

HMS Pinafore (May 5 to 10), the all-male version by Regan de Wynter of the popular Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, was a huge hit in the West End and is set on a warship in WW2 with a great libretto.

West End Hit and cult comedy musical Avenue Q (July 17 to 19) brings a host of fuzzy friends to the stage, and there is more comedy with the Summer Comedy Gala (May 23) featuring Romesh Ranganathan, Harriet Kemsley, Sean McLoughlin and Elis James. Jason Manford (June 9 and 10) brings his latest tour First World Problems and don’t miss Suggs: My Life Story (May 20) for entertaining insights into the singer’s fascinating life.

Nora and I (May 19) is the play by writer and Winchester University Lecturer Marianne Sharp inspired by one of Ibsen’s most iconic characters from his play the Doll’s House and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory are back with As You Like It (June 5 to 7) the Bard’s lyrical and flamboyant comedy of love. The Taking of Zena Charbonne (May 7) is a blistering mixture of performance, video and live music by The Occasional Cabaret that tells the story of the abduction of Zena, the wife of Environment Minister Sir Michael Charbonne.

OperaUpClose makes a welcome return with its version of Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore (June 11 and 12), a heart-warming tale that fizzes and bubbles in the 1950s setting of a Hollywood garden party and there is more music with Irish folk singer Cara Dillon (June 15).

The Science Museum live is back with The Energy Show (May 21 and 22) a spectacular performance to bring the subject alive and make learning science huge fun for children from seven to 12 years.

The loveable characters from Peppa Pig are back with Peppa Pig’s Big Splash (June 18 and 19), and Aliens Love Underpants (July 8 and 9) is the page-to-stage show by Big Wooden Horse based on the popular children’s picture book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort.