MASTER of absurdist comedy and king of rapid-fire wit, Rich Hall, will be discussing a variety of topics when he appears at the Alban Arena next Tuesday, March 6.

Since appearing in the guise of his redneck alter-ego Otis Lee Crenshaw in 1998, award-winning Rich from Montana has won critical acclaim across the globe by performing to sell-out audiences each year at the Edinburgh Fringe, throughout sell-out UK tours and at comedy festivals worldwide.

He is coming on stage at 8pm and a limited number of tickets are still available by calling the box office on 01727 844488 or go to www.alban-arena.co.uk

Set to rock the rafters at the Arena next Friday, March 9, are tribute band Hats Off To Led Zeppelin.

Regarded as one of the UK’s top tribute acts, they feature Peter Eldridge from the West End production of We Will Rock You, Jack Tanner and Kevin Oliver Jones from the world tour and West End productions of Dancing in the Streets and Thriller Live and Simon Wicker as the late John Bonham.

They are co-managed by Warren Grant, the son of legendary Led Zeppelin manager, Peter Grant, and come on stage at 7.30pm.

World-class musicians Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band return to The Alban Arena at 3pm next Sunday, March 11.

The band has made over 200 BBC broadcasts, appeared on television many times, performed at many of the top UK venues and toured Europe on several occasions.

Over the years the band has accompanied many artists including Paul Robeson, Cleo Lane, Julian Lloyd Webber, Nigel Kennedy and Tony Capstick with Capstick Comes Home which reached number 3 in the hit parade.

Tickets are �15/�12.50 concessions.

n The Arena is showing two box office hit movies next week.

My Week With Marilyn can be seen at 1.30pm and 7.30pm next Wednesday, March 7. Starring Oscar-nominated Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh, it tells what happens when eager film student Colin Clark is invited into the inner world of Marilyn Monroe after she arrives on set to film with Laurence Olivier.

At the same times next Thursday, May 8, the Arena is showing the American version of Stieg Larsson’s best-seller, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (18).

The English-language adaptation follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), as he investigates the disappearance of a wealthy patriarch’s niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.

Tickets are �6/�4 concessions for evening performances and �4 for the matinees.