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

1 The Gruffalo, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Thursday October 29 to Sunday November 1

The much-loved magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler returns by popular demand, celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary. Expect songs, laughs and mischievous fun for children aged three and up from Tall Stories, renowned creators of imaginative storytelling theatre. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

2 A Night at the Darts, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Sunday November 1

Luke Littler, Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, Fallon Sherrock and Ricky Evans are taking part in A Night At The Darts. Between matches, there’s a memorabilia auction and prize draws. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

3 Wilko: Love and Death and Rock N’ Roll, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Monday November 2 to Wednesday November 4

In 2012, Wilko Johnson, the rock star and founder of legendary Essex band Dr Feelgood, was told he had inoperable cancer and a year to live. Refusing all treatment, he decided to spend his last months living meaningfully: seeing the people, places and things which meant most to him during his remarkable life. Then, something extraordinary happened. The story is told in Wilko: Love and Death and Rock N’ Roll, a play with live music, which comes to the venue direct from London’s West End. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

4 Stories: The Tap Dance Sensation, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Tuesday November 3

A bold and energetic take on tap dance comes to Northampton, promising to immerse audiences in a cinematic world. The show tells the tale of a character named Icarus, a successful young actor trapped under the control of a powerful film director. After a fierce confrontation, Icarus finds himself unable to break free from the director’s stranglehold. The story is brought to life by a cast of ten dancers performing a fusion of tap dance and urban jazz. A dynamic set transports audiences through a cinematic world of film sets, hotels and gambling clubs with atmospheric lighting. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

5 Chris Packham’s World of Wonder, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Thursday November 5

For nearly 40 years, Chris Packham has been a leading voice for nature in the UK. Through his groundbreaking work on The Really Wild Show, Springwatch, Inside Our Autistic Minds and Earth, Chris has devoted his remarkable life to engaging with the natural world – and urging everyone do the same. In his new show, Chris opens an encyclopaedia of stories from his lifetime of curiosity and conviction – from a childhood bedroom bursting with feathers, skulls, snakes, lizards and jam-jars full of tadpoles, to the wild adventures that shaped his love of nature. It’s also a chance to see extraordinary specimens from Chris’s own collection up close, hear untold stories from behind the camera, and share in his infectious passion for the living world. Visit royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811 to book.

6 Swan Lake, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, Sunday November 1

Set to Tchaikovsky's celebrated score, Swan Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a young woman transformed into a swan by the sorcerer Rothbart. A promise of love is tested by deception in a ballet whose lakeside scenes and contrasting White Swan and Black Swan roles have become enduring images of classical dance. The production is presented by Crown Ballet. Visit lighthousetheatre.co.uk or call 01536 414141 to book.

7 Ice Age Adventure Live, The Core at Corby Cube, Saturday October 31

A new family theatre spectacular, Ice Age Adventure Live promises prehistoric thrills, big laughs and plenty of icy surprises for audiences of all ages. The frosty, fast-paced adventure whisks families back in time to a snow-covered world of towering glaciers and forgotten creatures. Along the way, young explorers will trek through frozen valleys, outwit sabre-toothed surprise, and befriend the coolest cavemen around—plus a few long-lost dodo pals for good measure. The heart of the story centres on a daring mission to save a woolly mammoth, with the audience invited to jump in and help when the adventure heats up. Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.

8 Autumn Makers’ Market, Welford Village Hall, Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1, 10.30am to 4pm

Visualise Textile Art Group will be presenting a wide range of mixed media and stitched art, along with an array of craft kits, accessories gifts and cards. The group, who meet regularly in Welford Village Hall, comprise like-minded artists who enjoy creating diverse work with stitch as the common thread. Current members are Wendy Bates, Jane Caven, Anne Clayton, Janet Gosling, Bridget Hawkridge, Sandra Jenkins, Thérèse Kane, Karin Kirk, Mary Martin, Alyssa Robinson, Jane Stock, Val Taylor and Tessa Thompson. Admission is free and refreshments are available. See visualise.online for details.

9 James Phelan: The Man Who Was Magic, The Core at Corby Cube, Thursday October 29

The renowned magician appeared on Britain's Got Talent earlier this year and is the first magician in history to sell out a two week solo run at the world-famous Magic Circle in London. He’s just come off the back of sold-out West End and Edinburgh Fringe runs. Visit thecorecorby.com or call 01536 470470 to book.

10 Boeing Boeing, Brackley Baptist Church, until Friday October 30

Written in the 1960s by French playwright Marc Camoletti, Boeing Boeing remains one of the most performed French plays throughout the world. The popular farce, translated for the English-speaking stage by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans, has enjoyed huge success in the West End and on Broadway regular revivals over the years. Now it’s taking to the stage in Brackley, courtesy of Brackley Players. In Boeing Boeing, architect Bernard is living the high-life in his Parisian bachelor pad, juggling relationships with three air hostesses, flying in and out on different routes. As old school friend Robert arrives to visit, bad weather and a newly introduced faster jet throw a spanner into works of Bernard’s careful timetabling. Chaos ensues in a whirl of mayhem and matchmaking. Boeing Boeing is directed by Jim Howson, whose directorial credits with Brackley Players include The Mrs Hudson Mysteries, Blithe Spirit, Neighbourhood Watch and Gaslight. Jim said: “This is a classic farce, fast-paced and hilarious, as Bernard, Robert and housekeeper Berthe are pushed to their limits to try to stop the three fiancées meeting each other, developing a tangled web of lies. We’ve had huge fun rehearsing this play and we are delighted to be welcoming some new members to the company to tread boards in Boeing Boeing and work behind the scenes.” Tea and coffee will be available, and audiences are welcome to bring along their own cold food and drinks. Visit the Old Hall Bookshop in Brackley town centre or visit brackleyplayers.org.uk to book.