Theatre producer Josh Dixon and his company Pumpkin Pantos return to The Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre next month with the swashbuckling tale of Treasure Island.

After sell-out performances of Red Riding Hood last Easter, this time audiences are invited to climb aboard the good ship Hispaniola for an epic adventure full of pillaging pirates, tropical islands and magical mermaids.

Mr Dixon said: "This action-packed pantomime has been a blast to produce and I cannot wait for audiences to join Jimmy Hawkins, Captain Smollett and Mishell the Mermaid as they try to beat the dastardly Long John Silver to a chest full of treasure. We promise side-splitting comedy, sensational songs and audience participation in abundance!"

Performances will take place on Friday, April 5, at 7.30pm, and Saturday, April 6, at 1pm, 4pm and 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8, or £28 for a family ticket admitting two adults and two children.

On April 12, stand-up comedian Lucy Porter will bring her new show Pass It On to the Phoenix, with tickets costing £15.

Lucy is a television regular on QI, Room 101 and Live at the Apollo, and is often heard on Radio 4’s News Quiz and The Now Show.

A Phoenix spokesperson said: "Always warm, witty and thought-provoking, this is Lucy’s best show yet. She muses on what we receive from our ancestors and what we pass on to future generations. Lucy’s inherited dodgy knees and global warming from her parents, but can she leave a better legacy for her children?"

Musicians Chris Green and Sophie Matthews will play 600 years of music in 90 minutes when A Brief History of Music visits the Phoenix on April 13 at 7.30pm. Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending up in the 20th century, this fast-moving show is a whistle-stop tour of Western musical history. Tickets cost £12 (concessions and members £11).

For more details of these shows, or to book tickets, call 01420 472664 or email [email protected]