The first Morecambe Vintage and Variety Festival is going full steam ahead for its debut on May 5th and 6th 2012.

Set in Morecambe’s atmospheric Winter Gardens, the theatre, which closed to the general public in the summer of 1977, will come alive once again as an international cast of jugglers, sword swallowers, contortionists, Punch and Judy men, street entertainers, circus stars and show girls tread the boards for a new two day festival in the Sea Side Town.

Former Morecambe resident and event organiser Neil Kendall is the man behind the spectacular May Bank Holiday event.

“The Weekend is a return to the glory days of seaside variety and theatre, he says.

“The Morecambe Variety Festival is a colourful tribute to our Town and promises to be spectacular fun for people of all ages.”

Saturday night will see two lavish shows in the old theatre with stilt walkers, a vintage 1930’s carnival side show, a girl in a giant moon and fire eaters to name but a few of the acts.

The Family Variety Show at 6pm will showcase Britain’s brightest talents as hula hoopist Pippa Cochran, World Famous Mouth Juggler Rod Laver and the strange Doctor Diabalo and his Chamber of Horrors thrill the crowds with a 12 act show .The King Neptune’s Ball at 8pm is for the grown ups and is already half sold out.

For this all new show audiences can expect an international array of burlesque queens, death defying stunts including a Chinese pole artist and chair balancer there will also be a Carnival Parade and tour of the majestic building.

The event will be topped off with vintage dancing from local artist Anthony Padgett who shall be playing vintage music on a gramophone player at the after show party.

On Sunday, a traditional ball room tea dance shall take place and a performance of Captain Murderer and The Morecambe Mermaid shall be performed on the stage. Events and acts shall be staged throughout the day times from 12 noon till 5 pm.

Visit the Winter Gardens website for more information and tickets for the shows are being sold at Skiddle.com and also Dotty Vintage Shop on Morecambe Promenade.

• More information on – search for Facebook Morecambe Variety Festival and GoldustShows.com