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This year’s Once Upon a Festival, which brings live children’s theatre to venues across the region, kicks off in June and we have one beary pressing problem – our festival bears have no names!

So we are launching our competition #NametheBears to come up with names for our three loveable bears.

Now in its third year, Once Upon a Festival is East Anglia’s Children’s Arts Festival which is spanning the region and engaging children in schools, venues and as many other unusual places as we could find.

What are our bears called? And where did they come from? Can you help us #NametheBears?

Winners will be drawn from entries around the region and will win tickets to a Children’s show in their nearest venue.

There are events in schools and venues across East Anglia with partner venues and programmes – The Garage, Marina Theatre, Meet Up – Thetford, Southwold Arts Centre, Market Place, a Creative People and Places programme, with an event in Chatteris, and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds spreading the storytelling net as far as it can reach.

Tell us what you think their story is or just suggest a name for each of them by sending it to namethebears@theatreroyal.org by 23 June and we will announce the winner on the last day of the Festival.

For tickets, and further details, call the box office on 01502 533200.

An enchanting musical adaption of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, will soon be performed at the Marina Theatre.

Wonderland runs Tuesday, May 23 to Saturday, May 27 and stars TV and West End performer Wendi Peters – much loved for her acclaimed portrayal of Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street.

She will appear alongside musical theatre favourite Dave Willetts, who has previously starred in tours of South Pacific, 42nd Street and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, as White Rabbit.

Britain’s Got Talent star Rachael Wooding will also guest star as Alice in the production.

Following sold out seasons in Tampa, Texas and Tokyo, the multi Grammy, Tony and Drama Desk Award nominated Frank Wildhorn’s Wonderland receives its UK and European première in this brand new British production.

Hailed by the New York Times as “inspirational”, Wonderland is an enchanting musical with a huge heart, a medley of magic and a whole lot of wonder.

A timely and touching story of love in all its forms, it’s an adventurous exploration of who we are, who we want to be and the power of everyday magic in our lives.

In the tradition of the best stage musicals, Wonderland boasts a catchy score full of songs by Frank Wildhorn, writer of pop hits including Whitney Houston’s ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go?’ and theatre classics including ‘This is the Moment’ from his internationally acclaimed show, Jekyll & Hyde.

Prices range from £18.50-£35.00.

To book tickets, call the box office on 01502 533200 or visit www.marinatheatre.co.uk

It’s a production that showcases four new dance works by international choreographers, performed by a company of eleven dancers trained at some of the world’s most prestigious dance schools.

And for the dancers of ‘Verve’, the postgraduate Performance Company of Northern School of Contemporary Dance, their tour will soon arrive at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft.

Each year ‘Verve’ commissions choreographers from all over the world to create a distinct, engaging, and thought-provoking programme of work.

The company works with established and emerging choreographers, giving dancers and audiences an appreciation of the breadth of what is happening in dance today.

This year’s programme includes NSCD Alumnus Carlos Pons Guerra’s wild Rita. Set in a nunnery and featuring a soundtrack of Cuban percussion and Mexican Rancheras, the work explores what happens when we suppress the vitality and desires of youth.

The show will arrive at the Marina Theatre on Thursday, May 18 at 7.30pm.

This is the company’s first tour under new artistic director Matthew Robinson.

“We are excited to be hitting the road and sharing the work of these four internationally renowned choreographers with audiences across the UK and beyond,” Mr Robinson said. “The dancers have worked with passion and determination with the choreographers to produce a performance that will surprise and enthral, showcasing their versatility and power”.

‘Verve’ offers emerging dance artists the opportunity to challenge and develop their skills across a varied repertoire of work, guided by the Artistic Director, alongside an exciting range of guest teachers and visiting artists.

The programme provides dancers with a safe and inspiring space to take creative risks with their practice, grow their individual artistry, rigorously challenge their physical skill and develop their identity as performers.

Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), based in Leeds, is the only conservatoire contemporary dance school in the UK outside of London.

Full priced tickets are £12.75, Concessions £10.75.

To book tickets, call the box office on 01502 533200 or click here

To view the YouTube trailer for the show click here