Into the Breach is a tour-de-force by Mark Carey for its concept, writing and his performance. He skips effortlessly between the half-dozen, eccentric characters without pausing for breath and was a joy to watch. However, I think the play’s greatest achievement was to demonstrate that, even after 400 years, Shakespeare is accessible and relevant to us all, at all times and in all circumstances.

Ballet is often, mistakenly, thought of as elitist, difficult and serious but, as last night showed, it can be a lot of fun too. The programme consisted of four short-ish pieces, two of which could be described as playful . . . Birmingham Royal Ballet is always a joy to watch. I look forward to seeing them with a sort of childish glee of which a man of my age should be ashamed. But I’m not, I love ‘em.

Nick Wilkes’ latest offering has echoes of Harold Pinter and Joe Orton. The play concerns two cousins, Sam, a simple but decent sort of chap and Bill, best described as a miserable old git. They scrape a living by, among other things, digging graves in the village church-yard and the action takes place in their chilly hut in the graveyard.

The second evening of Corin Hayes’ Buzz, Buzz, Buzz season this year featured near folk legend, Wizz Jones. Wizz has been around for more than fifty years and was part of the Les Cousins, Bunjies and Scots Hoose circuit along with Bert Jansch, John Renbourne, Al Stewart and all the rest . . .

Sir John Falstaff is probably the Bard’s greatest comic creation and after playing a supporting character in Henry IV Pt 1, followed by a guest appearance in Pt 2 he now gets his own show. His farewell appearance is off-stage in Henry V. Mr Rutter’s Sir John is a very coarse and vulgar fellow for whom it is difficult to have much sympathy. His quest to woo two married women backfires and he finds himself in the proverbial.