Lee Nelson, Ross Noble, Reginald D Hunter and more: Stars flock to Stafford's Gatehouse Theatre

They will line up with other funnymen, like Henning Wehn and Richard Herring. There will also be plenty of music, a smattering of theatre and plenty of kids entertainment at the venue.

The fun will start when Gary Delaney features on January 13. Delaney, who was born in Solihull, is married to Sarah Millican and also writes for Birmingham-based radio station Kerrang!

Ross Noble will feature in Brain Dump on February 15, Lee Nelson will bring Serious Joker to the venue on March 10, Justin Moorhouse will follow on March 11 and Richard Herring will headline on April 1.

Jasper Carrott will bring Stand Up and Rock to the venue on April 5 and 6, Henning Wehn will feature in Westphalia is not an option on May 11 while Reginald D Hunter will appear on May 20.

The venue will also feature screenings of major theatrical productions as part of a programme called National Theatre Live.

Venue spokesman Thomas Waldron said: "National Theatre (NT) Live is set to return to Stafford Gatehouse in the new year, kicking off with an encore screening of a landmark production featuring two of the most recognised faces of British theatre – Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian Mckellen.

"Following their hit run on Broadway, they return to the West End stage in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land on Thursday.

"One summer's evening, two ageing writers, Hirst and Spooner, meet in a Hampstead pub and continue their drinking into the night at Hirst's stately house nearby. As the pair become increasingly inebriated, and their stories increasingly unbelievable, the lively conversation soon turns into a revealing power game, further complicated by the return home of two sinister younger men."

In addition to No Man's Land, the Gatehouse Theatre will be screening a host of other National Theatre productions over the course of 2017.

Set for live broadcast on February 2, Lucian Msamati stars as Salieri in Peter Shaffer's iconic play, Amadeus – a tale of music, power and jealousy. Following this, Gemma Arterton is Joan of Arc in the February 16 screening of the George Bernard Shaw play, Saint Joan. Then on Thursday. March 9, Ruth Wilson will star as the title role in a new version of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. Finally, the last NT Live broadcast of the spring/summer season will be Shakespeare's Twelfth Night starring Tamsin Greig as Malvolia.

More NT Live screenings at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre will be announced over the course of the year.

The Gatehouse will also welcome Pitmen Poets on January 28. Pitmen Poets are a band celebrating the culture of North East England's coal mining tradition.

Mr Waldron said: "From Billy Elliot to Close The Coalhouse Door, When The Boat Comes In to the Pitmen Painters, audiences can hear the songs and stories of The Pitmen Poets.

"They feature four of North East England's leading champions of its musical heritage: ex-Lindisfarne singer and songwriter Billy Mitchell, renowned singer and instrumentalist Bob Fox, leading exponent of Tyneside song Benny Graham, and much-covered Durham songwriter Jez Lowe.

"These famous folksters are renowned for individually and collectively celebrating the triumphs, tragedy, humour and hard times of North-East England's coal mining tradition, in an evening of music, song and spoken word, illustrated by atmospheric archive photography.

"Since the first Pitmen Poets tour in 2011, Sam West's revival of the seminal Close The Coalhouse Door has completed a triumphant UK tour and Lee Hall's Pitman Painters has been a hit in the West End and also on Broadway.

"Interest in the North East's mining tradition has never been more intense. What better time could there be for an opportunity to experience the brilliant entertainment of The Pitmen Poets?"

Meanwhile, the Gatehouse will focus on the great outdoors during an exhibition planned from February 1 to March 29. The Banff Mountain Film Festival is presently on a world tour and will reach the venue in spring.

There will also be a headline show from fictitious news reporter Jonathan Pie on February 3.

The satirist has taken the internet by storm and has sold out gigs across the UK.

Described as being funny, brutal, razor sharp and remarkably popular, Pie is the brainchild of actor Tom Walker.

He's a potty-mouthed parody of a journalist whose YouTube videos have racked up millions of hits.

Other highlights to look out for include the music of Roy Orbison, during a tribute concert from Barry Steele on February 17.

Canadian singer songwriter Stephen Fearing will also appear on February 20. Fearing was one of the founding members of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, along with Colin Linden and Tom Wilson. He is also a member of the duo Fearing & White, with Irish artist Andy White.

Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders will also line up on February 26. Fairweather Low is a Welsh guitarist, songwriter, producer and vocalist. He was a founding member of 60s British pop band Amen Corner, and in recent years has toured extensively with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.