THE first line-up for Chippenham’s new Neeld Community and Arts Centre has been announced including a critically acclaimed West End musical and BBC Radio 4 regular comedian Mitch Benn.

The schedule for the new Neeld, which underwent a £705,000 refurbishment last year, includes live music, comedy, children’s shows and drama.

The town centre venue launches with Showstopper! The Improved Musical on February 12 followed by Irish musician Mark Geary with Grainne Hunt the following night.

Town mayor, David Powell, said: “We’re very proud of this first season programme. There’s a wide, varied line up for all tastes and ages.

“We’re particularly pleased to be bringing a West End show to Chippenham with Showstopper! The Improvised Musical which has been a hit Radio 4 series, a regular at the Edinburgh Fringe and comes to us from London’s Apollo theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

“Now that show is here at our Neeld and we’re on the national theatre touring map within months of opening our venue, this is great news for our town.”

The programme, which runs until July, also includes Edinburgh Fringe hit show Into the West by Travelling Light Theatre on March 27 which was described as ‘complex, vivid and moving’ by The Guardian.

Another Edinburgh Fringe hit is Theatre RE’s show Blind Man’s Song on May 20 which had a sell-out run at the 2015 London International Mime Festival and Latitude.

Comedians Andrew Lawrence and Bristol’s Jody Kamali join Mitch Benn on the line-up with live music from The Coal Porters and Welsh band Calan.

Story Pocket Theatre will be bringing magical children’s stories from the brothers Grimm with their show A Pocketful of Grimms on May 7.

A partnership project with Wiltshire Music Centre brings the Berkeley Ensemble’s family musical on June 11 and the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra on July 3.

A community afternoon is also being held on February 14 between 2pm and 4.30pm for people to come and see what it has to offer.

Coun Powell said: “We’re inviting everyone in to come and enjoy some free entertainment, have a look around and be part of this wonderful new venue in the heart of Chippenham. This is their Neeld community and arts centre, it’s bringing a new vibrancy to our town.”

For more information about the show programme and to book tickets online visit www.neeld.co.uk