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

1 THEATREHairspray, Milton Keynes Theatre, Aprii 9 to 14It’s Baltimore 1962, where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy’s audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way. This big and bold production of the hit musical stars Norman Pace and Matt Rixon.Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

2 MUSICGigspanner Big Band, The Stables, Wavendon, April 7As a trio, Gigspanner, formed by Steeleye Span’s erstwhile fiddle player Peter Knight, have built a massive reputation for dismantling traditional music and song and reassembling it into what Songlines described as “music of intelligently crafted brilliance”. They take self-penned material along with music rooted in the British Isles, and with the flick of a bow, a finely chosen chord or slip of a beat, produce richly atmospheric arrangements layered within a wealth of subliminal musical influences.Details: stables.org

3 THEATREGiant, Stantonbury Theatre, April 8Described as an explosive, absurd and visceral adventure into ‘adulting’, the play tells of Tommy, 22, who lives with three generations of his family. They’ve learnt to ignore the strange things his nan says over dinner, and the bizarre rumblings coming from the attic. But could Tommy’s nan know more than meets the eye?Details: stantonburytheatre.co.uk

4 COMEDYRichard Herring, The Stables, Wavendon, April 12Richard Herring gets to the half-century and looks at how his life has changed in the past decade, from irresponsible, single ‘kidult’ literally fighting his way through a mid-life crisis, to married father who is mid-way to the telegram from the Queen.Details: stables.org

5 COMEDYMark Thomas, The Stables, Wavendon, April 6Hear Mark’s account of setting up a comedy club in a refugee camp in Palestine – where he found it’s not so simple to celebrate freedom of speech in a place with so little freedom.Details: stables.org

6 OPERAWelsh National Opera, Milton Keynes Theatre, until April 7Welsh National Opera presents a feast of Italian operas from three of the greatest composers for its spring season in Milton Keynes. The season, entitled Rabble Rousers, features a new production of Verdi’s La forza del destino alongside revivals of Puccini’s Tosca and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

7 MUSICGeorgie Fame, The Stables, Wavendon, April 5In this very special and intimate evening, audiences will be treated to Georgie Fame’s hits alongside music from the artists who haveinfluenced him – all interspersed with personal stories and anecdotes from his incredible career.Details: stables.org

8 MUSICIllegal Eagles, Milton Keynes Theatre, April 8One of the world’s leading tribute acts returns for another show promising more of their trademark musical prowess, acute attention to detail and showmanship.Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

9 ARTPress Cuttings, gallery200 Milton Keynes College, until April 27This striking exhibition of work by Roger Woodiwiss features paintings derived from images cut from newspapers and magazines. “The pictures share an all-over pattern-like quality which results in a dispersed composition with no obvious centre of interest,” said Roger.Details: 398productions.co.uk

10 COMEDYNotflix, Stantonbury Theatre, April 11The show is an improvised comedy musical created on the night. After all, everything is better as a musical.Details: stantonburytheatre.co.uk