Compiled by Amanda Griffiths

THEATRE AND DANCE

4th The First Farewell Tour

One of the UK’s favourite entertainers, Paul Daniels is packing up his box of tricks for what could be the very last time in a magically mammoth national ‘first farewell tour’.

Crewe Lyceum Theatre, 01270 537333

5th The Vogue Ball

Multi award-winning dance event like no other with theme ‘Gods and Monsters’. Club culture meets high art and Vogue teams come together from far and wide to compete for dance supremacy, wearing lavish and creative costumes befitting the theme.

Camp and Furnace, Liverpool, 0844 8000 410

7th-9th 51 Shades of Maggie

Adult-only show telling the story of the loveable Maggie, played by Adele Silva, and her search for love. A working-class girl, Maggie, like most women has been let down by all the men in her life. Then as she attends an interview at the Social Security Office, Maggie meets the handsome and hunky Mr Big, who could be the man of her dreams.

The Plaza Theatre, Stockport, 0161 480 3818

9th Miss Julie

Exciting new English translation of this classic play from the original Swedish text.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, 0161 912 5616

Until 12th Educating Rita

Newly updated by the author, this modern classic tells the story of Rita, a down-to-earth straight-talking hairdresser who forces Frank, a jaded university lecturer to question where his life has been and where he’s going.

The Lowry, 0843 208 6010

15th-17th The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare

Play with music, set in 1970s and early 1990s, jealousy, power, passion and death meet comedy, renewal, romance and song.

The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn, 0151 9078360

18th-26th Boeing Boeing

Nantwich Players present this classic farce by Marc Camoletti.

Civic Hall, Nantwich, 01270 600727

21st-26th Evita

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece featuring some of the most famous stage music ever written.

The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, 0844 871 7649

Until 26th All My Sons

Searing investigation of honesty, guilt and corrupting power of greed by Arthur Miller.

Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, 0844 815 4873

30th-November 3rd

Cirque Du Soleil

Alegria is a classic Cirque du Soleil production that features gravity-defying acrobatics which will dazzle and astound audiences of all ages.

Echo Arena, Liverpool,

Until November 16th

Wicked Manchester

The global musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz begins a major tour in Manchester.

The Palace Theatre, Manchester, 0844 871 3038

MUSIC AND CONCERTS

5th The Halle: The Wild West

Music from the wild, wild west including High Noon, The Magnificent Seven, The Waltons and Brokeback Mountain.

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

5th Piano Concert

John Nilsen, an award-winning pianist from Oregon, USA performs an hour long solo concert featuring his folk, jazz, boogie-woogie and classically woven compositions and stories of life.

West Kirby Methodist Church, 07802 462682

6th Simply Gershwin

A celebration of acclaimed works by George Gershwin, including classic orchestral compositions alongside a selection of show-stopping numbers he wrote in collaboration with his lyricist brother Ira.

The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 0844 907 9000

12th Chester Bach Singers Concert

Chester Bach Singers perform Vaughan Williams’ Oxford Elegy and Dona Nobis Pacem.

Wesley Methodist Church, Chester, 0845 241 7868, www.chesterbachsingers.org.uk

13th The South

Timeless tunes made famous by The Beautiful South performed in the covered amphitheatre by ex-members Dave Hemingway and Alison Wheeler.

Manchester Academy 3, 0161 832 1111

18th City of London Sinfonia Concert

Celebrating some of the most well known and uplifting sacred music ever written, performed in the buildings it was composed for.

Chester Cathedral, 01244 500959

19th Kinder Children’s Choir

The Kinder Choir from Derbyshire celebrate Benjamin Britten’s centenary by performing the beautiful, A Ceremony of Carols and other works as part of the Live at St Wilfrid’s season.

St Wilfrid’s Church, Grappenhall, 01925 263183

31st Classic Russian

The Northern Chamber Orchestra perform this concert with pieces by Mozart, Bruckner, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky.

Parr Hall, Warrington, 01925 442345

FAIRS, FESTIVALS, DAYS OUT AND CHARITY EVENTS

3rd Charity Golf Event

Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd lead the charity pack at The Sportsmen’s Classic Gold Tournament to raise funds for The Christie Hospital and The Harold Riley Foundation.

The Mere Golf Resort and Spa, 01565 830155, joe.gates@themereresort.co.uk

4th-6th Antiques and Fine Art Fair

This is a quality antiques and fine art fair with 30 dealers selling a wide range of antiques and fine art to furnish your home with style.

Arley Hall, 01423 522122

5th-6th Crafts and Gift Fair

A wide range of exhibitors including traditional crafts plus gifts, retailers and food producers.

Tatton Park, Knutsford, 01625 374400

5th-13th Goosfest

A week-long series of events to enhance the cultural life of the small Cheshire village of Goostrey, promising something for everyone.

Goostry village, 01477 535367

6th Tatton Apple Day

A scrumptious Sunday celebrating the apple, with games and children’s activities, as well as talks on pruning, training and caring for your own apple trees.

Tatton Park, Knutsford, 01625 374400

10th-13th Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

A three day event presenting an unrivalled opportunity to buy direct from 150 makers selected for their excellence in textiles, jewellery, ceramics, wood and furniture, lighting, metal and glass.

Hardman Boulevard, Spinningfields, Manchester, www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

12th Homemade Heaven and Vintage Style Fair

With live entertainment and ‘pop up’ vintage tea room.

Tarporley Community Centre, 07887 767778

13th Quince and Apple Day

Celebrate autumn in the walled garden with tastings, tours, stalls and traditional crafts.

Norton Priory, Runcorn, 01928 569895

14th-27th Chester Literature Festival

A fortnight of various events around Chester.

Watergate Row South, Chester

5th-20th Knutsford Literature Festival

The 14th annual literature festival in Knutsford with speakers including Sir Roy Strong, Paula Byrne, Andrew Lycett, Sara Wheeler, Andrew Martin and Baroness Gillian Shepherd at various venues around Knutsford.

For full details call 01565 659915, or visit www.knutsfordlitfest.org

17th-20th The Chester Antiques Show

Around 50 stands over three floors of art and antiques, acclaimed as one of the best shows of its kind in the north west.

Chester Racecourse, 01825 744074

18th Masquerade Ball

In aid of The Christie with three course meal, live music with Andy Ellison, raffle, auction, magician and celebrities in attendance. Black tie and optional mask, tickets £45.

Hallmark Hotel Manchester, Wilmslow, 07743 701544

19th-27th Bollington Walking Festival

Two weeks of walks exploring the scenery, heritage and wildlife of Cheshire’s Peak District.

Various venues, Bollington, 01625 504114

23rd-Nov 1st Hallowtide

For the Tudors, Halloween was about the souls of the dead. Discover the origins of trick or treating and listen to some spooky stories.

Little Moreton Hall, Congleton, 01260 272018

OUR FAB FIVE

9th

Alison Moyet

National tour by Alison Moyet celebrating the world renowned music icons new album ‘The Minutes’.

Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, www.ticketmaster.co.uk

10th-12th

The Sociable Plover

Quirky two-hander performed by Tip Top Productions. Roy Tunt sequesters himself away in a bird-spotter hide on a stretch of flooded marshland. With a packed lunch and a framed photograph of his ex-wife for company, he watches and waits. But who is the tall, dark handsome stranger battling his way through the flood waters towards him?

The Forum Studio Theatre, Chester, 01244 341296

21st-22nd

Hairy Scary Halloween

Halloween witchcraft and wizardry with potion making and crafts.

Norton Priory, Runcorn, 01928 569895

23rd

The West Wirral Wanderer

An eight mile walk led by a National Trust ranger exploring Thurstaston Common before dropping down to Caldy and the Dee Estuary at Heswell Fields for a picnic lunch – part of the National Trust’s Great British Walk event which runs until 3rd November.

For more information call 0151 648 9887, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northwest

24th-31st

Hallowe’en Hauntings

Meet spirits and spectres, solve the horrible history mystery and quiz, storytelling, face painting and mask making.

Tatton Park, Knutsford, 01625 374400

Reader Recomendations

17th

An Audience With John Myatt

Meet world famous art forger, John Myatt and discover the remarkable story behind his rise to infamy as the greatest art forger of the 20th Century.

The event will take place amongst an exhibition of original and limited edition works by John Myatt.

Available now, tickets for the exhibition are priced at £30 and include sommelier-selected wine, canapés and the opportunity to meet John Myatt whilst enjoying an awe-inspiring collection of his work.

Tickets for this event are very limited and are expected to sell quickly. Visit castlegalleries.com/grosvenor-john-myatt to reserve your tickets and guarantee your place

20th

Adventures of Andy Kershaw

The back-to-back adventures of a full-throttle life from the maverick broadcaster, pioneering DJ, and unstoppable foreign correspondent ‐ Andy Kershaw. Rebel. Maverick. Front‐line music fanatic. Citizen of the World: Andy’s autobiography propels you through his life with a sense of moment-by-moment aliveness, outrage, wit, exuberance and searing honesty.

Andy will be at Alexanders Jazz Bar, on the 20th October. Tickets from www.alexanderslive.com