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

1 Birmingham Royal Ballet: BRB2, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday May 23

The renowned Carlos Acosta created this gala production for BRB2, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s company for young dancers, featuring highlights from the repertory of Serge Diaghilev’s troupe of rebel dancers, musicians and designers who fled Russia early in the 20th century to set a new standard in creativity that inspires and resonates across the world of dance to this day. The show includes parts of The Firebird, Spectre de la Rose, Les Sylphides and Scheherazade. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

2 Fever: Ballet Of Lights, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Friday May 22

Enjoy a unique fusion of classical ballet and modern technology, where dancers literally light up the stage with glittering routines and glow-in-the-dark costumes. The performance tells the tale of Sleeping Beauty, a timeless story about a cursed princess awakened by her true love’s kiss, as pirouettes and gravity-defying leaps cast a kaleidoscope of colours across the space. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

3 Ladies Day: A Comedy, Castle Theatre, Wellingborough, until Saturday May 23

Wellingborough Cooperative Amateur Dramatic Society present the exuberant comedy about four likely lasses from the Hull fish docks who head out on a day trip to the races. Work, love and life are just one long, hard slog for the fish-filleting foursome. Their fortunes are set to change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York. If their luck holds, they could hit the jackpot - and more besides. Visit castletheatre.co.uk or call 01933 270 007 to book.

4 Darren Walsh: Do You Like Puns?, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday May 23

After selling out London’s Leicester Square Theatre, Britain’s tallest pun-slinger Darren Walsh is taking his 8ft frame to embark on his first UK tour. From appearing on Comic Relief to his ‘Jokes on the street’ series on social media, he’s been racking up millions of views, but live is where he thrives. The show combines one-liners, improvised puns from audience suggestions, sound effects and audio-visual antics. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

5 It’s A Beautiful Noise, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, Saturday May 23

Starring Corby-based Fisher Stevens, It's a Beautiful Noise is a joyous homage to the music and a tribute to Neil Diamond, bringing to life iconic songs like Sweet Caroline, Song Sung Blue, Cracklin' Rosie, Forever in Blue Jeans and many more. Fisher promises theatregoers heartfelt renditions of all the biggest hits, including those featuring appearances from Lula and Barbra Streisand. A lifelong lover of Neil Diamond, Fisher has toured the world as a performer and is supported by an experienced band and backing singers who are all as passionate about Neil Diamond as he is. Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.

6 Wensleydale Whey, Wharf Inn, Welford, Tuesday May 26

The rich history of cheese will be celebrated in a new play coming to Northamptonshire – courtesy of the much-loved touring company Mikron. Wensleydale Whey is set in the the Yorkshire Dales, where the stakes are high. Monks from the Abbey are desperately seeking a living soul to resurrect their traditional Wensleydale cheese. The musical journey features a colourful cast of characters, ghosts and grievances.

Mikron is celebrating 54 years of touring this year. Artistic director Marianne McNamara said: “2026 is a milestone year for Mikron. The company remains one of the UK’s most prolific touring theatre companies, performing over 5,000 shows since 1972 by canal, river and road, and we’re also celebrating our beautiful narrowboat Tyseley’s 90th birthday this year.”

Wensleydale Whey is written by Lucie Raine, with original music by composer Amal El-Sawad. The production is directed by Elvi Piper, with musical direction and arrangements by Robert Cooper and set and costume design from Celia Perkins. It stars four actor-musicians: James McLean, Georgina Liley, Robert Took and Catherine Warnock.

Marianne added: “We’re all big foodies here at Mikron, so a pitch for a show about cheese was not a hard sell for Lucie!”

For over five decades, Mikron has been taking professional theatre to hundreds of different venues, from allotments and fish and chip shops to pubs, village greens and even the odd theatre.

Based in Marsden, West Yorkshire, Mikron is a unique touring theatre company that travels by narrowboat and van. Over its 54 years, it has performed thousands of times to nearly half a million people. A significant portion of Mirkon’s performances are staged on a "pay what you feel" basis.

Visit mikron.org.uk for more information.

7 We Will Rock You, The Core at Corby Cube, Thursday May 28 to Saturday May 30

Corby Amateur Theatrical Society presents the worldwide smash hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton. It includes 24 of Queen’s biggest hits, such as We are the Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, Somebody To Love, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Under Pressure, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust and of course We Will Rock You. Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.

8 Crick Boat Show, Crick Marina, Saturday May 23 to Monday May 25

There’s no shortage of things to do at this year’s show. Visitors can take to the water on a 30-minute boat trip, see the latest new boats from the UK’s top boat builders, find out about places to visit and free events on the canal network, chat to volunteers about canal conservation, look around nine historic working boats on the marina, shop for gifts, crafts, clothing and more. Evening entertainment included live music from Blondie tribute band Blondied and Madness tribute band One Step Behind. There’s plenty to eat and drink too. Visit crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970 for tickets or more information.

9 Northampton Opera Group: Madama Butterfly, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Saturday May 23

This tragic story of a young Japanese geisha’s doomed love for an American lieutenant contains some of the most beautiful and moving music in all of opera, including the unforgettable aria One Fine Day, as well as the much-loved Humming Chorus. A cast of international soloists joins the local singers of the Northampton Opera Group Chorus under the baton ofPhillip Thomas for this unique performance which will be sung in the original Italian with English surtitles. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

10 To Kill a Mockingbird, Milton Keynes Theatre, until Saturday May 23

Aaron Sorkin’s award-winning stage adaptation of the seminal American novel about racial injustice and childhood innocence became a Broadway and West End sensation. Set in 1934 Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by novelist Harper Lee’s own childhood and has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. Lawyer Atticus Finch encourages kindness and empathy in his children, but is pushed to the limits of these qualities himself when he resolves to uncover the truth in a town that seems determined to hide it. Visit atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes to book.