What’s on at the theatre this month

February promises shows that are funny, fruity and fabulous.

Strictly speaking, Giovanni Pernice’s return to the Derngate stage (Feb 4) will be an unforgettable experience for fans of delectable dance – and the show title promises as much; it’s called Let Me Entertain You.

Giovanni will be joined by a cast of West End players. They won’t put a foot wrong!

At The Royal, the Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast will be recorded live (Feb 10) with friends Richard Coles, Cat Jarman and Charles Spencer pooling passions and knowledge to investigate the strange and curious pockets of history, and they’ll be answering the questions you wouldn’t even think to ask.

Whether you are a history buff yourself, or just chronically curious you can expect a wonderful evening of forensically researched, beautifully observed explorations of history with a hearty serving of personal anecdotes and giggle-inducing tangents. Simply, this will be ace!

The 70th anniversary of the Agatha Christie classic, The Mousetrap will get everyone guessing (Feb 12-17). This is the genre-defining murder mystery from the best-selling novelist of all time that has sold millions of tickets around the world.

The question is, have youdunnit yet?
Author and comedian Marc Burrows embarks on a journey through the life and work of Sir Terry Pratchett (Royal, Feb 17), exploring Pratchett’s life, influences, impact, wit and wisdom. Bad puns and unnecessary footnotes included.

Fireman Sam is back in the brand new show, The Great Camping Adventure (Feb 19, Derngate) which is the perfect half term treat for little folks.
More children-centred fun follows at the venue a day later with Rude Science promising ‘enormous bottoms, fart machines, snot cocktails, pee-powered fireworks and vomiting mannequins.’

CBBC presenter and accomplished STEM author Stefan Gates will be at the helm, entertaining youngsters aged six and above, and adults who have yet to grow up.
Wang In There, Baby! demands funny fella Phil Wang the same evening when he chats about race, family, nipples and everything else in a show definitely not for the kids.

McFly’s Tom Fletcher has won over tiny minds with his interactive adventures for big imaginations, and now the books are being put to the stage, with There’s a Monster in your Show (Royal, Feb 21-25) delivering a 50-minute adventure that serves as the perfect introduction to theatre – suitable for ages two years and up.

Oh, What a Lovely War (Royal, Feb 27) uses live music, movement, song and sketches to bring to life the folly, farce and tragedy of the First World War.
The show blurb says it all, ‘Now, more than ever, it holds a mirror up to the world and speaks to us all.’

We’re always envious of those people who have the time to binge watch box sets when we barely have the time to sit through the weather forecast, which makes Buffy Revamped (Derngate, Feb 27) very appealing; all 144 episodes of the 90s smash hit, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, told through the eyes of Spike. It’s the perfect parody, whether you be an aficionado or if you never enrolled at Sunnydale High.

Husband and wife team, Dr Michael Mosley and Dr Clare Bailey will reveal how simple changes can transform our lives so that we can all Eat well, Sleep better and Live longer (Derngate, Feb 28). We need a front row seat for this one.

Last up is Bert’s House (Royal, Feb 29-March 1) a sea-side-splitting comedy on its debut tour. Tight-fisted but kind-hearted Bert runs Dunedin Guest House, which would be his seaside paradise if it wasn’t for the guests. But could it be on the brink of a great love story? Book in for a stay and find out.

Jim Davidson will be Swimming Against the Tide over at The Old Savoy (Feb 10) as he ‘resists the pull of the under-current of radical sensibilities of the woke minority’, says the blurb.

The strictly for adults panto Alice in Wonderland (Feb 23) is a naughty tale full of camp and filthy fun, if that’s your bag, or how about fixing your eyes on the balls for Bingo That’s Bonkers (Feb 24) with comedy and DJs included.

There will be a chill in the air (Feb 29) with Most Haunted Live on the stage, welcoming the first lady of the paranormal, Yvette Fielding, Karl Beattie and the rest of the team. They will show unseen footage from haunted castles and hospitals and conduct their own ghostly investigation…