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

1 BALLETThe Little Mermaid, Milton Keynes Theatre, April 17 to 21Northern Ballet is bringing Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale to Milton Keynes on the final leg of its world première tour of The Little Mermaid. Telling the story of a young mermaid who is willing to give up everything she knows in the search for love, the production will immerse audiences in the mystical underwater world of Hans Christian Andersen’s fable.Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

2 THEATREParkinson: Our Kind of Music, The Stables, Wavendon, April 17A live theatrical journey through Sir Michael Parkinson’s musical passions in words, pictures and performance. Sir Michael has spent much of his career promoting the appreciation of the music of the Great American Songbook and encouraging those of the new generation who are fighting to keep that flame alive. In the process, he has developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of that genre as well as interviewing some of the greats and finding time to talent spot the likes of Bublé, Krall and Cullum. His taste in music takes in everything from Razorlight to Paul Simon, The Beatles to Oasis.Details: stables.org

3 THEATREThe Amazing Bubble Man, The Stables, Wavendon, April 13Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences worldwide for more than 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. Louis explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized.Details: stables.org

4 THEATREHairspray, Milton Keynes Theatre, until April 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. Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

5 THEATREMenopause the Musical, Milton Keynes Theatre, April 15Starring Cheryl Fergison and Maureen Nolan, Menopause the Musical is packed full of one-liners about night sweats, hot flushes and memory loss, backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of innuendo-laden versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics. Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

6 MUSICMatthew Whitaker Trio, The Stables, Wavendon, April 13Matthew was the winner at Apollo for Fox TV’s revival of Showtime at the Apollo in 2016 and in January 2017 he was named one of the 17 people to watch in New Jersey by The Record, one of New Jersey’s largest newspapers. Here’s your chance to discover why this young keyboardist is causing such a stir.Details: stables.org

7 MUSICIdles, Craufurd Arms, Wolverton, April 13Politically charged, refreshingly confrontational and infectiously volatile, Idles are a band like no other, bringing the unsettling reality of the world we live in into their frantic assault on the senses. Laugh, dance and sing in the face of adversity.Details; thecraufurdarms,com

8 MUSICSarah Munro, The Stables, Wavendon, April 14With a delicate songbird’s voice reminiscent of Eva Cassidy and Katie Melua, Sarah’s music has been championed by legendary lyricist Don Black, as well as Jamie Cullum and Michael Ball.Details: stables.org

9 COMEDYJonny & the Baptists: The World Is A Mess, Here Are Some Songs, The Stables, Wavendon, April 13The multi-award-nominated musical comedy stars return. Every time they try to write something silly about the world, the world does something even sillier...Details: stables.org

10 COMEDYScreaming Blue Murder Comedy Club, The Stables, Wavendon, April 18Compere Andrew Bird introduces rising star Joe Wells and Mary Bourke.Details: stables.org