Ten of the Best - Your guide to what to see around Northants in the coming days

1 Murder at Midnight, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, until Saturday February 21

Favourites from stage and screen are taking the stage in Northampton in this new comedy thriller. Murder at Midnight is written by the acclaimed playwright Torben Betts – whose credits include Birdsong, Murder in the Dark and The Mirror Crack’d – directed by Philip Franks and produced by the award-winning company Original Theatre.

It’s New Year’s Eve in a quiet corner of Kent and a killer is in the house. There’s notorious gangster Jonny ‘The Cyclops’, his glamorous wife, his trigger-happy sidekick, his mum who’s seeing things, her very jittery carer, plus a vicar who’s hiding something, and a nervous burglar dressed as a clown. Add a suitcase full of cash, a stash of deadly weapons, and one infamous unsolved murder, and it’s a mystery with a difference, showing that even the best-laid plans can unravel spectacularly when the wrong people are in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time.

The play stars Jason Durr (whose credits include Heartbeat and Casualty) as Jonny ‘The Cyclops’, Susie Blake (Coronation Street and Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV) as Shirley, and Katie McGlynn (Coronation Street and Hollyoaks) as Lisa. Durr said: "If Quentin Tarantino was to write a play, this would be it.”

Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

2 Top Gs Like Me, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Monday February 23 to Saturday March 7

This biting new comic satire about the influence of online culture takes threads humour through the story of a group of aimless young adults. It centres on the sometimes dangerous relationships that young people can have with social media and with influential figures who curry favour with people on the cusp of adulthood. The auditorium will be transformed into a skatepark with audiences seated in the round.

The cast will be joined by a community chorus, the ‘internet ensemble’, representing the online world on stage and made up of 25 third-year acting students from the University of Northampton.

The production is recommended for ages 14 and upwards. Call 01604 624811 or visit royalandderngate.co.uk to book.

3 The Eras Experience, The Core at Corby Cube, Saturday February 21

Step into the world of Taylor Swift in this tribute show featuring Xenna as Taylor. Expect the likes of Love Story, Blank Space, Shake It Off, Fortnight and The Tortured Poets Department, with dancers and replica costumes, brining glamour and storytelling sparkle to the set, celebrating every chapter of Taylor’s talents. Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.

4 Geoff Norcott: Basic Bloke 2 - There’s No Bloke Without Fire, Saturday February 21

One of British comedy’s most distinctive and sought-after performers comes to the venue. Geoff’s new examines everything from how activists talk about male mental health to reflections on being a dad – such as wondering if dads will ever get the same cultural credit as mums. Geoff says he is also “taking advantage of the rediscovered tolerance towards jokes being jokes” to talk about how much he judges people – bad parents, fussy eaters, over eaters and anyone who wears a dressing gown beyond 9am. He will also reflect on what it was like working during what he calls “the high watermark of ‘woke’” – and a live TV appearance which could have ended his career. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.

5 Our Little Hour, The Stahl Theatre, Oundle, Tuesday February 24

The acclaimed drama tells the inspirational story of how Walter Tull – grandson of a Barbadian slave and orphaned at just eight years old – rose to prominence as the first black footballer to play at the highest level of the domestic game in the UK – in a career including spells at Northampton Town and Tottenham Hotspur – before achieving another historic breakthrough as the first man of his heritage to be commissioned as an Officer in the British Army. Written by award winning playwright Dougie Blaxland, the show includes 16 original songs. Visit www.stahltheatre.co.uk or call 01832 277300 to book.

6 Emmanuel Sonubi: Life After Near Death, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Sunday February 22

Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer nominee and Best Show nominee, Emmanuel Sonubi is back on tour after sold-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, his European Tour and his hit New York Soho Theatre run. Emmanuel’s show explores his life after surviving heart failure, facing the cause of the trauma and the strange and funny ways we all find to keep going when life gets hard. Call 01604 624811 or visit royalandderngate.co.uk to book.

7 Dino Tales, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, Friday February 20

With a "captivating” story and an entire herd of prehistoric beasts, Dino Tales is a family adventure starring Europe’s largest walking dinosaurs. Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.

8 Russell Hicks: This Time It’s Personal, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday February 21

It’s been a big year for Russell. He’s appeared in multiple feature films including Edgar Wright's The Running Man (2025) and Maintenance Required on Amazon. His Dear Diary series on Instagram has gained millions of views. Now, the London-based American is back on tour. The provocative and exuberant comedian, known for his masterful improvisation, has appeared on Channel 4, BBC and ITV and has headlined at every major club across the UK, including The Stand, Glee Club and Up the Creek, and holds a residency at Top Secret Comedy Club in London. Last year's show was about his life in the UK – this year, it’s all about him. Call 01604 624811 or visit royalandderngate.co.uk to book.

9 An Evening of One-Act Plays, Brackley Baptist Church, Thursday February 19 and Friday February 20

Brackley Players have put together a contrasting selection of short plays, directed by different members of the company, to make up an evening of entertainment. The evening will begin with a short one-woman play, Is That You, Clint? directed and performed by Katy Page. This humorous monologue sees Brenda musing on obscene phone calls and date disasters. This is followed by Chekhov’s one-act comic play The Bear, directed by Chris Epps. When Yelena Popova, a reclusive young widow in mourning for her late husband, receives a visit from the irascible Smirnov demanding payment of her husband's debts, things take a surprisingly romantic turn. For the second half of the evening, Brackley Players present Little Grimley Saving The Planet, the seventh play in David Tristram’s popular and comical Little Grimley series. This latest instalment, directed by Alice Adams, sees the hapless amateur dramatic society rising to the challenge of reducing their carbon footprint. But, as ever, nothing quite goes to plan. Tea and coffee will be available, and audiences are welcome to bring along their own cold snacks and drinks. Visit www.brackleyplayers.org.uk to book or buy tickets in person from Old Hall Bookshop in Brackley town centre.

10 The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, Tuesday February 24 and Wednesday February 25

Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show, packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Call Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.