COMEDY AND THEATRE

The Lavender Hill Mob

Clive Francis stars as Henry Holland, the long-suffering bullion transporter who decides to reward himself for 20 years of faithful service.

Until Saturday, 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm, £8 to £14

LIBRARY THEATRE, Central Library, Manchester

A Caribbean Abroad

A generation of black people from the islands which make up the Caribbean journey thousands of miles in search of a new life.

Until Saturday, 8pm, Sat mat 3pm, £8 to £10.50

OCTAGON THEATRE, Le Mans Crescent, Bolton

Second From Last In The Sack Race

A young boy's passage to manhood set in the dusty back-to-backs of the north of England through the 1930s to 1950s.

Until Saturday, July 6, 7.30pm, Sat mat June 29, 2pm, £8.50 to £14.50

OLDHAM COLISEUM, Fairbottom St, Oldham

Blues In The Night

It's the late 1930s and three women and a saloon singer spend the night in a cheap, run-down Chicago hotel.

Until Saturday, July 6, 7.30pm, Fri 8pm, Sat mat June 29, 2.30pm, £4.50 to £12.75

OPERA house, Quay Street, Manchester

The King and I

The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical direct from the London Palladium, starring Stefanie Powers and Ronobir Lahiri.

Until Saturday, 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm, £10 to £28.

PALACE THEATRE, Oxford Road, Manchester

Miss Saigon

Tragic tale of a love affair between a US soldier and a Vietnamese woman.

Until Saturday, 7.30pm, Sat mat 2.30pm, £10 to £36.

PRESTON GUILD HALL & CHARTER THEATRE, Lancaster Road, Preston

The Bible - The Complete Word of God (Abridged)

The Reduced Shakespeare Company gallop from Eve to Exodus through the epistles, the apostles and the gospels via fig leaves and final judgement.

Until Saturday, 7.30pm, £12.50

Midsummer Masked Ball

Dig out your smart suits and fancy ball gowns and enjoy a magical evening with a four-course meal, charity auction, raffle and disco in aid of Melanie's Magic Wand Appeal.

Tonight, 7.30pm, £30 or £280 for a table of 10.

The Phantom Guild Ball

A collaborative community project and performance exploring the fantasy Guild balls through costume, dance and music.

Saturday, 2pm, £5 and £2 children.

Ronald McDonald's Adventure In Space

The ever-popular Ronald McDonald stars in a brand new stage show suitable for three to nine-year olds. He teams up with Grimace, Birdie, the Fry Guy puppets and naughty Hamburglar in a new adventure.

Sunday, 1pm & 3.30pm, £7.50 and £6 children.

Livin' La Vida Loca

A Latin party with a high-energy tribute to Ricky Martin, including hits such as She Bangs, Nobody Wants To Be Lonely and Livin' la Vida Loca.

Tuesday, 8pm, £10 to £12

Twelfth Night

A classical ballet performed by Ballet Gwent, with music by Haydn and colourful sets and costumes.

Thursday, 7.30pm, £12

Children of the Revolution

Preston College presents the story of popular music from 1954 to the present day, with host Andrew Brittain.

Thursday, 7.30pm, £5

ROYAL EXCHANGE, St Ann's Square, Manchester

Design For Living

The fortunes of Gilda, Otto and Leo, a trio of decadent 30-something artists, who travel from Paris to London to New York as their fame increases.

Until Saturday, August 10, Mon to Fri 7.30pm, Sat 8pm, (except July 1, 7pm), Wed mat 2.30pm & Sat mat 4pm, £7 to £24.75

COMEDY

THE COMEDY STORE, Manchester

The Best in Stand Up

Paul Thorne, Lee Mack, Dave Spikey and Gavin Webster.

Tonight 8pm, £13 and £6 concessions. Saturday 8pm, £14 and £6 concessions

Alan Carr's Ice Cream Sunday

Sunday, £7 and £6 concessions

Men at Work

Mick Ferry, Toby Foster, Roger Monkhouse, Andy Robinson and Gavin Webster

Wednesday 8pm, £7 and £6 concessions

The Comedy Store Players

Jim Sweeney, Richard Vranch and Andy Smart

Thursday 8pm, £12 and £6

THE FROG & BUCKET, Oldham Street, Manchester

Red Hot Raw + Curry and Quips

Stu Who performs, joined by six hopefuls, with balti supper available.

Thursday, £5, with balti £7, NUS £2, with balti £4

Barrel Of Laughs

A minimum of three top comedians and compere.

Friday, £10 and £6 NUS, Saturday, £12 and £6 NUS