Ten of the best things to do in and around Milton Keynes in the next few days

1 MUSICMilton Keynes City Orchestra, The Venue, Walton High, March 11Stephen Hough will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Milton Keynes City Orchestra in a Mothering Sunday concert. It will open with Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture and close with Beethoven’s Symphony No.3. Stephen is considered a renaissance man of his time. Over the course of his career he has secured a reputation as a uniquely insightful concert pianist, writer and composer. Stephen has earned a multitude of awards and a long-standing international following. He was made a Commander of the British Empire in the 2014 New Year’s Honours. MKCO chairman Marian Livingstone said: “Classical enthusiasts understand that this level of performance is what memories are made of.”Details: www.mkco.org

2 MUSICAL COMEDYFlight of the Conchords, Milton Keynes Theatre, March 13 to 15The Grammy Award-winning folk comedy duo are coming to MK for three nights. They’ve had series on the BBC and HBO, and have gained a cult following around the world.Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

3 COMEDYScreaming Blue Murder Comedy Club, The Stables, Wavendon, March 14Presenting the comedy stars of tomorrow today. Compere Andrew Bird introduces rising star Juliet Meyers and the headliner is Pierre Hollins.Details: stables.org

4 MUSICAmplifier, Craufurd Arms, Wolverton, March 10With countless gigs, 14 years and eight albums to their credit. 2017’s album Trippin With Dr Faustus wasdescribed by press as a “career highlight” and listed in the top 50 albums of 2017 by Classic Rock, Visions and Prog magazines. Despite all of this, Amplifier are still one of the best kept Rock secrets this country has.Details: thecraufurdarms.com

5 COMEDYShazia Mirza, The Stables, Wavendon, March 10Shazia Mirza is back with her brand new stand-up show, exploring the distinction between lies and truth, as well as topics including nudity and the periodic table.Details: stables.org

6 MUSICWillen Live, Ousedale School, Olney Campus, March 9Four local bands do one amazing gig for Willen Hospice. It promises to be a mix of rock, country, indie and pop from Zak & Dan, Secret Genius, Wait for Jude and Bite Me.Details: willen-hospice.org.uk

7 CRAFTMK Handmade & Vintage Weekend Extravaganza, In front of John Lewis, The Centre:MK, March 10 and 11With 128 of the region’s most original and affordable, hand-picked designer-makers, artists and vintage/retro/antique sellers, visitors can expect a diverse array of thousands of special high quality goodies you won’t find on the high street.Details: www.mk-handmade-and-vintage.co.uk

8 THEATREA Bunch of Amateurs, Stantonbury Theatre, March 8 to 10Keen to boost his flagging career, fading Hollywood action hero Jefferson Steele arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford – only to find that this is not the birthplace of the Bard, but Stony Stratford. And instead of Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench, the cast are a bunch of amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers. Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and insecurity are tested to the limit by the enthusiastic am-dram thespians.Details: stantonburytheatre.co.uk

9 THEATREJoe Brown, Milton Keynes Theatre, March 11A real survivor and a huge musical talent, the musician’s musician Joe Brown has seen it all and, as his fans can testify, his tales of life on the road are, quite simply, hilarious. Get up close and personal with this musical legend, for an entertaining evening of music, jokes, and storytelling.Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

10 THEATREFat Friends The Musical, Milton Keynes Theatre, until March 10There’s still time to catch the hit show, full of lovable characters,Details; atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes