Theatre fans have snapped up tickets for next year's shows at the newly-refurbished Brighton Dome.

Tickets for the shows, featuring a glittering array of international stars, went on sale less than three weeks ago and sales have topped £60,000.

Dome spokeswoman Caroll Pinkham said: "It has been completely frantic. Sales are going fantastically well."

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, on her first visit to Brighton, and violinist Nigel Kennedy, playing with the Berlin Philharmonic, headline the list of big-name stars.

South African songstress Miriam Makeba and Omara Portuondo, one of Cuba's most celebrated musicians, have pulled in significant advance sales.

And tickets for home-grown stage sensation Stomp, who have a week of shows at the end of March, are also in demand.

Caroll said: "It's quite amazing with so much going on in the run up to Christmas, people are thinking about what they want to do in March.

"I think it confirms the quality of the performers. When stars of the stature of Dame Kiri and Nigel Kennedy come to Brighton, people don't want to miss them."

The Dome's official Press launch kicked off bookings at the end of November but the theatre's publicity material only landed on people's doormats last week, culminating in a weekend stampede.

Caroll said: "We sold £10,000 worth of tickets over the weekend, which is very encouraging."

Two other factors have also added to the demand for tickets.

Caroll said: "Some tickets are priced at £6. We've also introduced the Early Bird discount scheme which gives people ten per cent off when they book three shows before Christmas."

The Dome reopens on February 24 after a £22 million refurbishment. The theatre will now have 1,850 seats.

The Dome's chief executive Nick Dodds said the facilities, line-up and acoustic quality meant the theatre ranked among the best venues in the UK.