Listings

DUSK, darkness and shadows and essential to the atmosphere of A Thousand and One Nights, the latest presentation by the talented Hampshire Youth theatre.

But in order to achieve this effect, the company has had to organise some of the most sophisticated and extensive lighting ever seen at the Nuffield, where the show is staged on August 13 & 14.

A London company, Electronic Theatre Controls, has lent the theatre a state of the art console, allowing the theatre to have 400 light channels, as opposed to 196 channels on the usual console. Theatre sponsor Lite Relief has also supplied a number of "intelligent" lighting fixtures.

The additional channels has given the production access to an impressive range of lighting effects and colours.

The play, to be performed by the company's older members, tells the story of a girl, Shahrazad, who is forced to tell the King stories every night in return for her life.

Box office: 023 8067 1771.

THE Master and Margarita, Edward Kemp's adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's surreal novel, continues its run at Chichester Festival Theatre this week. Vampires, flying broomsticks and a talking cat all appear in the story, billed as a "carnival for the senses and a diabolical extravaganza".

The Master and Margarita was written by Bulgakov in secret during the last 15 years of his life and was only published in 1967, almost 30 years after he completed it. Box office: 01243 781312.

CLASSIC high school musical Grease continues its run at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth until August 28.

The teen romance stars You've Been Framed presenter Jonathan Wilkes as Danny and former Pop Idol contestant Suzanne Carley as Sandy. Classic numbers include Summer Lovin', You're the One That I Want and Hopelessly Devoted To You. Box office: 0870 111 3000.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra provides the music, while vocal talent comes from Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and a full cast of West End singers. The evening culminates in a fireworks finale. Box office: 0870 111 3000.

ROCK'N'ROLL musical That'll Be the Day is providing plenty of nostalgic fun at Bournemouth International Centre at the moment. The show, packed with hits from the 50s to the 70s, is now in its 16th year and has been seen by more than 4 million people. You can catch is from Wednesday to Thursday each week until September 11. Box office: 0870 111 3000.

BOURNEMOUTH Pier Theatre is currently hosting Ray Cooney farce Out of Order. Paul Shane, of Hi-De-Hi! fame and former 'Allo 'Allo star Vicki Michelle lead the cast of this classic farce, about a government junior minister whose liaison with an opposition secretary turns into a disaster.

Runs until August 28. Box office: 0870 111 3000.

FOLLOWING the success of their "musical in a week" summer school, the Carry On Productions cast, aged seven and over, present West End Kids II - a musical revue based on their favourite shows, including West Side Story, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Thoroughly Modern Millie. You can see the show on Sunday, August 15 at the Regent Centre, Christchurch. Box office: 01202 499148.

THERE'S singalong fun in store for youngsters at Ferneham Hall, Fareham on Thursday, August 19 when Beep the Bus and his nursery rhyme friends come to town. The musical adventure features loads of participation nursery rhymes, action songs, games, puzzles and stories. Box office: 01329 231942.