Summer Thyme

Epping Church Choirs Association are holding their summer concert. Music will include John Rutter's folk-song collection A Sprig of Thyme as well as O Be Joyful by Vaughan Williams, and other works by George Dyson, Herbert Howells and John Ireland.

St John's Church, St John's Road, Epping, CM16 5DN, Saturday, July 7, 7.30pm. Details: eccachoir.org.uk

Joe McElderry

Following Joe McElderry’s UK tour playing the lead in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Joe received five-star acclaim from critics. After releasing his fifth album, Joe is now embarking on his own concert tour.

Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS, Sunday, July 8, 7.30pm. Details: 01279 431945 

Rocket Man – A Tribute to Elton John

Travel back in time and be treated to all the hits including Crocodile Rock, Philadelphia Freedom, Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, I’m Still Standing, Tiny Dancer, Your Song and Rocket Man.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Tuesday, July 10, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 

Queen’s Theatre Magnificent Music Hall

Don’t miss a splendid afternoon in the company of Britain’s finest variety acts. Step back in time to the heyday of music hall, with a show packed full of song, dance, magic and laughter.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Wednesday, July 11, 2.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 

Buddy Holly – A Legend Reborn

Through 1957 to 1959, one man changed the face of music and revolutionised the meaning of rock ‘n’ roll. That man was Buddy Holly. Clutching a Fender Stratocaster, sporting a pair of heavy-rimmed glasses, and sounding exactly like Buddy in his heyday, a legend is reborn. This all new production celebrates an artist who shot straight into the limelight as soon as That’ll Be The Day hit the radio. Though his career was short, this one-man powerhouse gave the world a stack of hits that will never be forgotten.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Monday, July 9, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 

Mark Mathews

Mark Mathews is a London based singer-songwriter, voted one of the best new artists in London by readers of the Metro Newspaper and nominated for two Indy Music Awards for Best Live Act. His relentless gigging, touring and busking has taken him around the world, literally, and, when he is not touring, his London Underground busker’s license takes him around the Circle Line.

Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone, E11 1HG, Saturday, July 7, 7pm. Details: 07904 525639 

Festival of Youth

Each summer, Newham Music invites hundreds of young people to participate in immersive musical activities and concerts through singing, playing, and performing at this Festival of Youth showcase. These interactive days are designed to celebrate the talent of every child throughout Newham. The theme of ‘INSPIRE’ will take students on a journey through popular music and activities, coming together to show that young people are the real inspiring heroes of Newham. Featuring performances from the Roma Bridging Sounds Orchestra, Urban Development’s Urban Flames, Newham Grooves Choir, and the brand new original mini-opera, Full Circle, written and performed by the Newham community.

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN, Wednesday, July 11, 7pm. Details: 020 8534 0310 

The Wish List

Tamsin packs boxes in a warehouse on a zero-hour contract. Her brother Dean is housebound, working to obsessive compulsive rituals. When Dean is declared fit for work, their benefits are cut. There are phone calls to make, appeals to lodge and endless forms to fill in. Tamsin must pack faster, work harder and fight to get the support she and her brother so desperately need. Katherine Soper, with delicate and sensitively powerful writing, asks what our labour is worth and how can life be lived when the system is stacked against you?

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Tuesday, July 10, to Saturday, July 14, 7.45pm. Details: 01245 606505 

An American in Paris

This breathtakingly beautiful Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, inspired by the Oscar winning MGM film, tells the impassioned story of discovering love in the City of Light. Featuring gorgeous music and lyrics, stunning designs, and show-stopping choreography, An American in Paris is coming from London’s West End to a cinema near you. Jerry Mulligan is an American GI striving to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war.

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Wednesday, July 11, 7.15pm. Details: 01245 606505 

Tom Brace: Brace Yourself

Tom Brace brings a jam-packed hour of laughs and magic that you simply won't believe. Expect the unexpected in this mind-boggling variety show. With something for everyone, this brand new show promises to bamboozle the brain and fool even the sharpest of minds. Suitable for 8+.

Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS, Friday, July 6, 7.30pm. Details: 01279 431945 

The Mobile Phone Show

This summer Redbridge Youth Theatre Workshop's production is The Mobile Phone Show by the brilliant Jim Cartwright. This ensemble piece explores our growing obsession with mobile phones – and invites the audience to keep their phones on to produce a communication cacophony, a fully charged-up chorus line of chaos in a rhapsody of rap, text, tweet and gabble.

Redbridge Drama Centre, Churchfields, South Woodford, E18 2RB, Wednesday, July 11, to Friday, July 13, 8pm. Details: 020 8708 8800 

Jibbering Jester Comedy Club

A jam-packed night of hilarious entertainment by well-known stand ups and comedy acts from television, radio and stage. Hosted by Naomi Cooper and starring Gary Delaney,

Hal Cruttenden and Tony Law and featuring Ross McGrane, Janet Garner, John Oakes

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Sunday, July 8, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 

Pride in London Parade

A celebration of London’s LGBT+ community with a parade through the heart of the West End.

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN, Saturday, July 7, 1pm. Details: prideinlondon.org

The Allergy and Free From Show

The world’s largest celebration of ‘free from’ food, drink and lifestyle products. A day out you will not find anywhere else, delivering brand new exciting choices for delicious food and drink, ground-breaking home products and health solutions to help improve your ‘free from’ life.

Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX, Friday, July 6, to Sunday, July 8. Details: allergyshow.co.uk

Femini Festival

Femini Magazine is a platform passionately run by young women, with the aim of showcasing real life stories of women from around the world. The platform has published many stories from female activists, successful female entrepreneurs and women wishing to draw attention to the cultural struggles they have faced. To celebrate two years since Femini Magazine was founded, they are launching Femini Festival. The event will start with a Q&A panel, ‘Intersectionality: the rest or just the West?’, which will unite women from all different walks of life to discuss just how positive feminist efforts of today genuinely are. Talk about whether Western feminism does enough to help women in war-torn, deprived countries and what routes are open to us as a society to engage others in women's rights. There will then be a launch party of Issue Four of Femini, where there will be live music and a bar available. This will be a great opportunity to meet with other activists and creatives.

Stour Space, 7 Roach Road, E3 2PA, Friday, July 6, 6.30pm. Details: eventbrite.co.uk

Hussain’s House Live – The UK’s Largest Mental Health Youth Festival

Hussain Manawer is partnering with Hackney Empire and Twitter to bring you Hussain’s House Live – the UK’s first and largest youth mental health festival. Featuring talks and performances by influencers and artists from the worlds of business, entertainment and music, explore topics such as anxiety, bullying and depression as honestly as possible – and remind yourself that you are not alone. You will leave feeling inspired, excited and motivated to achieve your full potential.

Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ, Thursday, July 5, 1pm to 4pm. Details: 02089 852424