THE Mayor of Lowestoft Tod Sullivan this week unveiled plans for a double celebration that will showcase the town's top talents – and a festive boost for some of its most under-privileged families.

Mr Sullivan announced he was resurrecting the annual Mayor's Ball, which will be held at Pontins at Pakefield on March 30 next year and that this would be followed by a two-week Lowestoft Mayor's Celebration of The Arts.

And in a separate move, he has teamed up with the Marina Theatre and producers of this year's pantomime, Jack and The Beanstalk, to give disadvantaged families a chance to attend the festive show.

Mr Sullivan said the Mayor's Ball would be different from previous events because it would act as a charity event and a showcase for the town's talented young people – from the catering to the on-stage entertainment.

'I'm delighted to be announcing the Mayor's Ball in 2012. It should be a fantastic event,' he told The Journal. 'The aim is to raise money for charity, but the value for money will be excellent with tickets from �35 getting an entire evening's entertainment from great local acts – the variety and talent on show will be incredible.'

Mr Sullivan added: 'We want to give young, talented people in the town a showcase so there will be new acts on stage and the staffing and waiting on the night will be done by Lowestoft College students. We'll also issue to all guests a pen profile of every young person involved on the night so that we can encourage businesses to speak to them, encourage them, mentor them, book them, employ them or give them work experience.

The two-week Lowestoft Mayor's Celebration of The Arts festival, which will follow the ball, is being organised with Waveney District Council for April 1-15, to promote all local activity in the arts. Full details are still to be agreed.

Meanwhile, the Mayor's charity, backed by Lowestoft Charter Trustees, has secured a number of seats for the pantomime in conjunction with producers Paul Holman Associates and the Marina Theatre Trust, and these will be distributed by local organisations to families that would not normally be able to afford to go.

The panto's producer, Paul Holman, said: 'We're delighted to be able to support such a wonderful initiative which will benefit those who would not for various reasons traditionally be able to go to the theatre.'

Chief executive of the shadow Marina Theatre Trust Martin Halliday added: 'It is a great way of ensuring that many people from the local community who would not be able to visit a live theatre production are able to do so.'

The mayor's announcements come as The Journal urges people to back Lowestoft and Waveney as part of our Love Local campaign, which seeks to highlight all that is best about where we live.

Mr Sullivan, who lives in Carlton Colville, said: 'I know some people aren't aware that Lowestoft has a Mayor – and even fewer know what the Charter Trustees do – but today we start the process of changing that, so people can say the Mayor and the Trustees do things, that we make things happen and that we work to make Lowestoft better.'

For Mayor's Ball tickets/information, ring Carol George on 01502 523608 or e-mail carol.george@waveney.gov.uk

Shops and businesses interested in our Love Local campaign should contact our sales representative Perry Bartram on 01493 335043, or by e-mail at perry.bartram@archant.co.uk