OH, WHISTLE at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol

Wearing a ‘lived-in’ suit complete with shirt, tie, waistcoat adorned with pens and a chain watch in the pocket, round spectacle glasses on his nose and sometimes holding a pipe or a glass of brandy in his hand, Parry set to work in a disarmingly genial way to entrap the imagination of those of us lucky enough to be in this sell-out show’s audience. That another earlier performance had to be rapidly convened to satisfy the demand for tickets is testament to the appeal of good old-fashioned storytelling, and of course the promise of a frisson of fear.

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THE HAPPINESS at the North Wall, Oxford

Happiness is … having overexcited people in the foyer before the performance starts, and not being sure if, in fact, the performance has already started. Happiness is having to do a collective breath and a bit of a knee bounce to loosen you up before even being allowed into the auditorium. Happiness is anticipation. Happiness is wondering what you’ve let yourself in for and being hugely relieved that you haven’t gone to this play . . .

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OPUS 7 at the Oxford Playhouse

Circa Tsuica is a French company of entertainers who are making their UK debut with the Opus 7 tour. Their show is a combination of excellent music (primarily on brass instruments) and acrobatics. Their stage interaction is something special to watch as they employ a musical technique called Soundpainting . . . If you want laughs and musical and acrobatic talent you won’t be disappointed!

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HOBSON’S CHOICE at Bath Theatre Royal

Having drunk himself to within a few pints of the grave, Hobson is told by his straight talking doctor that his only salvation lies in the hands of a strong-willed woman, and in a scene reminiscent of Lear’s testing of his daughters, he ultimately agrees to Maggie’s terms which include a partnership with her, by now, successful husband – who has been set up in business by Mrs Hepworth.

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SLEEPING BEAUTY at the Bristol Hippodrome

Taking Tchaikovsky’s sweeping score as his script and his blueprint, Matthew Bourne has built an extraordinary retelling of this ancient tale that taps into the same vein, if you’ll pardon the pun, as the teenage vampire sensation The Twilight Saga. Putting the Gothic into this romance is a masterstroke – it immediately makes for some sumptuous costume opportunities, and laces a predictable love story with a darker and sexier understory.

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BIRTH & DEATH & HERE & NOW at the Wardrobe, Bristol

There is birth and there is death and then there is the bit in between. In this new solo show from the Open Attic Theatre Company actor Adam Blake takes a humorous look at the inevitabilities in life. In one scene, helped by audience participation, Adam acts out a game show with the grim reaper as host. When and how would you like to die? . . .

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