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

1 Frankie Goes to Bollywood, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, until Saturday April 18

The joyful and big-hearted show celebrates modern British South Asian life through love, laughter and Bollywood spectacle. Frankie Goes to Bollywood tells of an ordinary Huddersfield girl catapulted into a glittering world of Bollywood. As Frankie chases her dreams under the dazzling glare of fame, she must decide what she’s willing to risk, and what she’s prepared to sacrifice along the way. The production features new Bollywood songs by composer Harry Anand.

The show is presented by Rifco Theatre Company, which internationally recognised for producing bold and large-scale musicals that celebrate contemporary British South Asian stories. Founded in 2000 by artistic director Pravesh Kumar MBE, Rifco is known for combining spectacle, emotional storytelling and popular music to create theatre that resonates with diverse audiences nationwide.

Kumar, who has written and directed the show, said: “Frankie is a multi-layered piece of theatre. It offers a sumptuous British spin on the glorious stories of Bollywood – a breathtakingly colourful journey of romance, sweeping songs and vibrant dance, juxtaposed with exploration of the darker undercurrent within the culture.

"This is a celebration of everything glorious and spectacular about Bollywood and Indian culture while highlighting less-positive experiences women face. I wanted to highlight this issue, because it’s men’s responsibility to shine a light on sexism, and to call it out whenever and wherever they see it. I hope this show is a catalyst.

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

2 Shrek the Musical, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, April 16 to 19

"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek." Thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and there’s the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. The Tony Award-winning musical, based the Oscar-winning film, is presented by Castle Community Theatre Company. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.

3 Friday Night Is Music Night – Celebrating the Music of Richard Rodgers, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Friday April 17

BBC Radio 3’s Friday Night is Music Night comes to Northampton with a special concert celebrating one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, Richard Rodgers, who redefined the sound of American musical theatre. The show includes classics from Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King And I and The Sound Of Music. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

4 The Anglia Comedy Allstars, The Deco, Northampton, Friday April 17

The starry line-up features Milton Jones, Rory Bremner, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Darren Harriott. Milton Jones brings his “gloriously daft nonsense”,while Rory Bremner is widely regarded as Britain’s top satirical impressionist, having provided definitive impersonations of PMs and Presidents from Major to Mandela, Blair to Brown, Clinton to Cameron and Bush to Trump. As himself, he’s been a presenter, writer, quiz-show host, actor and more besides. Taskmaster star Fatiha El-Ghorri’s has a mind full of cutting observations and engaging witticisms on the life and times of a British Muslim woman and has made appearances on The Jonathan Ross Show and The Russell Howard Hour, and Darren Harriott he has hosted Live at the Apollo and appeared on panel shows such Mock the Week. Visit theoldsavoy.co.uk or call 01604 491005 to book.

5 Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Monday April 20 and Tuesday April 21

The multi award-winning West End show first opened in 1989 and has been thrilling audiences around the world ever since. Experience the drama, passion and excitement as a multi-talented cast of actor-musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his Texas rockabilly beginnings to international stardom and his legendary final performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, before his tragic death at the age of just 22. The show features two hours of some the greatest songs ever written, including That’ll Be The Day, Rave On, Johnny B. Goode, Oh Boy, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, Raining In My Heart, Everyday, Shout and many many more. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

6 Karl Loxley: Songs from the Stage and Screen, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, Saturday April 18

Karl’s rise to stardom began with his remarkable performance on the hit TV show The Voice, where he reached over 9 million viewers with his rendition of the famous opera aria Nessun Dorma. Out of an astounding 48,000 people who auditioned, Karl secured his place as one of Sir Tom Jones’ final eight contestants. Join Karl for an night of music with songs from The Greatest Showman, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, The Lion King and many more. Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.

7 The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Wednesday April 22

In ethereal candlelit settings, this band of 14 classical musicians unleash enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion, blending classical music and metal, featuring music by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, System Of A Down, The Cranberries, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, Rage Against The Machine, Nirvana, the Rolling Stones and more. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

8 The Sooty Show, The Deco, Northampton, Sunday April 19

Izzy Wizzy, let’s get busy – Sooty heads into town in a magical new show to delight the whole family, along with magician Russ Brown and circus star Michael Jordan. Visit theoldsavoy.co.uk or call 01604 491005 to book.

9 Golden Gloves Gala, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday April 18

The Golden Gloves Gala offers an evening of sport, entertainment and philanthropy. Guests will experience, for the first time at the Royal & Derngate, white-collar boxing, unlicensed bouts, and Muay Thai fights with traditional Wai Kru ceremonies, alongside live music, a DJ, a 40-person choir, a dazzling fire-eater and much more. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

10 Mean Girls, Milton Keynes Theatre, until Saturday April 18

The award-winning smash-hit musical comedy comes from an award-winning creative team including writer Tina Fey and starring TV personality, actor and Steps star Faye Tozer. Regina, Gretchen and Karen are ‘the Plastics’ – they rule North Shore High and won’t allow anyone to get in their way. Home-schooled Cady Heron may think she knows a thing or two about survival of the fittest thanks to her zoologist parents, but discovers that high school is savage in a whole new way. Visit atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes to book.