THE Mayflower’s spring 2009 season includes spectacular musicals, new productions and world-class opera.

The 50th anniversary tour of West Side Story gets the new season under way from January 27 to February 7. Set in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, West Side Story explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs – one white, the other Puerto Rican.

When Tony falls in love with Maria, the sister of the rival gang’s leader, the feud takes on a new dimension, and as their love blossoms so begins a fatal journey overshadowed by violence and hatred.

This is followed by the multi-award-winning West End production of Cabaret, starring Wayne Sleep as the Emcee and Samantha Barks, from the BBC’s I’d Do Anything, as Sally Bowles from February 9 to 14. This double Olivier Award-winner turns Weimar Berlin of 1931 into a sassy, sizzling haven of decadence. And at its heart is the legendary Sally Bowles, who performs nightly at the infamous Kit Kat Klub.

The renowned Imperial Ice Stars return to wow Southampton audiences once again, this time with Cinderella On Ice from February 17 to 21. Thriller Live, a musical celebration featuring the hit songs of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, returns after a sell-out visit last year from February 23 to 28.

March begins with the acclaimed production of Calendar Girls, prior to the West End and starring Lynda Bellingham, Patricia Hodge, Sian Phillips, Gaynor Faye, Brigit Forsyth, Julia Hills, and Elaine C Smith. The show is based on the uplifting and inspiring true story of some extraordinary women from a Yorkshire WI, which was turned into a film starring Dame Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

The Welsh National Opera bring The Marriage of Figaro, Salome and The Elixir of Love to the theatre in their spring season from March 10 to 14. This is followed by two nights of Hot Flush (March 16 and 17) starring Lesley Joseph and Sam Kane, a new show for the kids in Scooby Doo and the Pirate Ghost from March 19 to 21, and finally the return of Joseph and The Amazing T e c h n i c o l o r Dreamcoat, starring Craig Chalmers, from March 23 to 28.

Le Grand Cirque returns to the theatre from March 31 to April 5 with a spellbinding new show called Fantazie. There is a double Easter helping of David Essex, starring in a musical based on his own music, All the Fun of the Fair, from April 6 to 11, followed by the stunning new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita, from April 14 to 25.

High School Musical returns for just one week from April 27 to May 2, and SpongeBob SquarePants is the star of a new children’s show, The Sponge Who Could Fly, from May 6 to 9.

Fame the Musical, from May 12 to 16, and Dreamboats and Petticoats between May 25 and 30, based on the bestselling album and featuring hit songs from the 60s, rounds up the spring season.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811, mayflower.org.uk