AFTER many months of refurbishment, the largest regional arts centre outside London is soon to reopen.

Poole Arts Centre has undergone improvements costing around £8.5m, cash that came from Poole Borough Council, the Arts Council and individual grants and donations.

It will be unveiled as Lighthouse: Poole's Centre for the Arts.

Although it may look very different, it will still be offering some of the biggest names and brightest acts in popular entertainment.

Lighthouse chief executive Ruth Eastwood says: "Some things haven't changed, including our commitment to presenting the best companies, musicians, actors and artists. We are delighted that Lighthouse remains the home of the BSO and that we launched the season with a major concert.

"Being the biggest arts centre outside London is something we have always been proud of - but we are also striving to be the best."

The theatrical side of the new season kicks off on Tuesday, November 5, with Frankenstein, brought to the stage by Forkbeard Fantasy in conjunction with Bristol Old Vic and the Lyric Theatre.

Big names set to tread the boards include Mark McGann, Louise Jamison and Colin Baker in the hilarious Corpse! (November 11-16), the Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Bible (November 17), TalkSexShow (November 22-23) and One Helluva Life, about John Barrymore and starring Tom Conti.

You can also catch the West End hit show Fame! (November 18-23) and, of course, the annual panto, which will be Aladdin, starring Anne Charleston (from Neighbours) and Tracey Childs from BBC's Born and Bred.

Music will be provided by, among others, the Vienna Boys Choir (November 5), Billy Bragg (November 14) and the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra in 2003.

You can also see Handel's Messiah in December plus the weekly lunch-time recitals and BSO appearances.

For fruther details, and to book, call (01202) 685222 or log on to www.lighthousepoole.co.uk