A sixth month run of shows, plays, performances and comedy is coming to Dereham in the New Year as part of a bid to revive the town's Memorial Hall. Council bosses have put together a programme with everything from pirates and magic carpets to war time golden oldies and comedy.

A sixth month run of shows, plays, performances and comedy is coming to Dereham in the New Year as part of a bid to revive the town's Memorial Hall.

Council bosses have put together a programme with everything from pirates and magic carpets to war time golden oldies and comedy.

All the shows are being put on as part of a market testing exercise - to see what people in the town want to go and see at the Norwich Street venue, which bosses are planning to revamp.

Dereham Town Council has yet to decide what it wants to do with the hall. Options could be anything from a makeover to substantial building work to extend it.

A structural engineer has recently declared it structurally sound for at least another 100 years - subject to 'sensible' upkeep of the building.

Tony Needham, clerk to the council, said: “The thing which is often forgotten is that the memorial hall is not a monument it's a living building so the most important thing to think about is what will go on in the building once it has been refurbished.

“To this end we are starting to book some touring companies to perform at the memorial hall in the spring of next year.

“This will give us both an idea the kind of shows people are interested in and start to build our experience of managing a theatre.

“We shall be putting on a mix of shows to cover all age groups and interests and will be the start of building up our understanding of what people would like to see.”

The sixth month programme has been revealed as: Bombs at Teatime, a film/talk by Stewart Orr; a comedy night by Purple Cactus; an all day circus workshop and show with the Magic Carpet Theatre; a wartime show sing along with Jill Daniels; a pirate school and workshop with Story Play and Rob Tofield; an evening of songs from the shows with Julie Hewitt; and Ruby and her horses a show/talk with Neil Lanham.

Dates have yet to be set for all these shows but they are due to be on from January to July next year.

A further date has been set for a story telling play called The Sun Dragon on October 25.