A beach will be transformed into a stage set for an open-air opera, headed by an iconic Hollywood legend.

The star of the show is being kept under wraps but the promoter behind the event has worked with big names in the past.

Dan Prattley, of Angry Seagull Productions, is planning shows to complement the Brighton Festival.

It would include a show on the beach and on the lawns along the seafront.

A live performance of either a Puccini or a Verdi opera, with six to eight principal singers and a full chorus, would be held on Brunswick Lawns on May 19.

The opera will be staged in front of an audience of an estimated 1,500 within a marquee opposite Adelaide Crescent.

The marquee would be set up for three nights.

There will also be a night of comedy and entertainment, possibly with Joan Rivers and Joan Collins, and a night headed by a Hollywood legend.

The legend has not been named but Mr Prattley has previously worked with Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, so it is likely to be a major star.

Mr Prattley is also planning three nights of opera on Brighton beach opposite Drakes Hotel in September.

The May event was approved by Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee last night.

The opera to be performed will be decided by the general public and will be staged by an international company.

Mr Prattley worked in Edinburgh for ten years and dreams of making Brighton as big a cultural centre as Edinburgh, Paris and London.

He organised an event in Edinburgh where he brought Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins over from the States.

He said: "It is about five different events in May, on the 19th, 20th and 21st.

"It is not just music - we have had interest from Joan Collins and Joan Rivers to do shows, and from a Rat Pack director from the West End. It is the whole experience.

"Then in September it will be a full opera on the beach."

The legend, he said, was a woman who was "very present day" but had not yet been confirmed.

He said: "I want to bring the unexpected."

A couple of hundred tickets would be given free of charge to young people.

About 1,000 would be sold for £22.50 and there would be 300 tickets for a five-course, silver service dinner by Blanche House at £200 a head.

Adam Bates, head of tourism at Brighton and Hove City Council, has strongly supported the project.

He said: "Anything that is trying to introduce something new into the broader events programme for the city is great for visitors.

"We have a large number of people who come back here time and again.

"One reason they do is because there is always something new to do.

"People that introduce these new programmes to the city that includes our existing venues, whether it's Sweeney Todd or the entire May festival help make it great."

Coun Paul Elgood, ward councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide, said: "It is a really interesting proposition and one that could make a really special event on the lawns for the people of Hove.

"I discussed it with local residents' associations and they thought it could be a real attraction.

"The location is very special and having a backdrop of the sea could be tremendous.

"It is the first time a huge attraction has been proposed for the lawns for some time.

""It is going to be interesting to see how it is received and how it goes down with local people.

"It is a different kind of event."

Other events planned for the beach this year include the return of the sand sculptures at Black Rock from June to September and Zippos Circus at Hove Lawns in August.