The audience will find itself in sultry and sizzling Spain while visiting wet and windy Halifax next month.

That's when Opera International returns to the Victoria Theatre to perform Bizet's masterpiece Carmen.

Chisinau National Opera presents the story of a gipsy girl whose beauty lures soldiers to desertion but leads to her own death.

The show contains well-known tunes such as the Flower Song, Toreador's Song, Habanera, Seguidilla and Chanson Boheme.

Carmen, staged on February 9, comes from Ellen Kent and Opera International and features dancing by the Romale Gypsy Dance Troupe.

The opera begins a winter/spring season that includes ballet, comedy, classical music, children's shows and several bands.

Halifax Amateurs performs songs like I Remember It Well, Thank Heaven for Little Girls and The Night They Invented Champagne in the musical Gigi from April 1-5.

Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison are brought together for the tribute show Rockin' on Heaven's Door (March 27).

Andy Prior and John Miller present Big Band Crazy (March 8), while Stephen Triffitt performs his tribute to Frank Sinatra (April 12).

The real thing comes from The Searchers, Wayne Fontana, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, in the Solid Silver Sixties Show (March 19).

Other performers include The Levellers (March 4), the Blues Brothers (14), and Irish folk band The Dubliners (April 7).

The Locrian Ensemble presents Classic Romance by Candlelight (March 2), the Orchestra of St John's features soloist Tasmin Little (February 15) and Halifax Symphony Orchestra performs Ravel, Glasunov and Messager.

Moscow City Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty (February 12) and Cinderella (13/14).

Not Now Bernard, the classic children's story, heads a trio of David McKee monster stories on February 23.

Other children's shows include Mr Men and Little Miss's at the Seaside (February 19), the Chuckle Brothers in a Star Wars spoof (March 1), the Sooty Show (9) and Noddy and the Magical Day (April 17).

Other performers: comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown (March 11), astronomer Patrick Moore (13), Halifax Choral Society (23), politician Tony Benn (April 26) and Giants of Jazz with Kenny Ball, George Melly and Humphrey Lyttelton (April 27).

Book tickets at Keighley Information Centre in the town hall, or phone 01422 351158.

n Bingley Amateurs are holding auditions for both adults and children for the musical Annie, on Sunday, February 2.

The show will be staged from November 18-22.

Contact Irene on 01274 615918 for more details.

Bingley's panto Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be staged at Bingley Arts Centre from March 20-23, including Saturday and Sunday matinees.

n Four Nights in Knaresborough applies a modern touch to an episode from England's history next month at West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Paul Webb's drama follows the four medieval knights who fled north and hid in Knaresborough Castle after murdering Archbishop Thomas Beckett.

The "brutally comic drama" explores the licentious and crazy men's jealousies, desires and frustrations while they are kept in line by an attractive housekeeper.

The play is staged from February 7 to March 8 at the Leeds theatre. Book tickets on 0113 213-7700.

n A range of activities for local people takes place this winter at the Tasmin Little Music Centre, part of the University of Bradford.

There is a recorder group, jazz band and international choir open to anyone, the informal "Small World" band and the high-standard University Singers choir.

An orchestra for people who played in school and want to continue playing is running on Wednesday tea-times.

The university's March 13-15 production of the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum needs extra chorus members, instrumentalists and backstage helpers.

Phone 01274 235495 for details.

n Opera North is currently in residence at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, performing Idomeneo, Mozart's drama set in the aftermath of the Trojan War (January 29, 31, February 27, March 1); Cimarosa's popular comic opera The Secret Marriage (February 25, 28) and Puccini's melodrama Tosca (February 1, 26).

Book tickets at Keighley Information Centre in the town hall, or phone 0113 222-6222.

n Cubanite is a night of salsa with live band, DJ and dance team, plus a pre-show dance class, at St George's Hall, Bradford, on February 8.

Book tickets at Keighley Information Centre or phone 01274 432000.

n Dick and Liddy's comedy club returns to the Victoria Theatre, Halifax, next Friday with stand-up from Adam Ethan Crow, Jason John Whitehead and Hal Cruttenden.

Phone 01422 351158 for tickets.