5-14

Emerge Festival

Curated by C-12 Dance Theatre this three-week festival provides an opportunity for different choreographers and theatremakers to premiere new short works over five consecutive nights. Each week of the Festival features a different programme of dance theatre, showcasing a huge array of bold new talent.

The Space, Westferry Road, E14 3RS, until November 21. Details: space.org.uk/, c-12dancetheatre.com/productions/emerge-festival/

The Hollywood Special Effects Show

This interactive family show takes you behind the scenes of your favourite films to discover the secrets of movie magic. Feel the heat from spectacular explosions, get up close with gruesome sci-fi monsters, be blown away by apocalyptic weather and hold on tight through high-octane stunts.

Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS, November 5. Details: 01279 431945, playhouseharlow.com

Hackney Firework Pyromusical

Superheroes is the theme this year and families are encouraged to tie on their capes, pull on their underpants and swoop down to enjoy the stunning display of colour and music as well as children’s funfair rides, themed entertainment and food and drink stalls.

Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, November 7, gates 6pm, display 7.30pm. Details: hackneyempire.co.uk

Show of Hands

Joined by Miranda Sykes on double bass the band is widely recognised for resonating original songs, stunning musicianship and remarkable audience rapport.

Hackney Empire, Mare Street, E8 1EJ, November, 7.30pm. Details: 020 8985 2424, hackneyempire.co.uk

Christina Atken

A jazz/soul singer who likes to entertain and bring a happy atmosphere to her performances.

Luna Lounge, Church Lane, Leytonstone, E11 1HG, November 7, 8.30pm. Details: 07904 525639, lunalounge.info

Agatha Christie – A Murder is Announced

The residents of Chipping Cleghorn are astonished to read an advert in the local newspaper that a murder will take place this coming Friday. Unable to resist, the group gather at the selected house at the appointed time and then the lights go out and a gun is fired. A lavish new production of this classic Miss Marple mystery.

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, until November 7. Details: 01245 606505, chelmsford.gov.uk/event-type/theatre

The Wedding Singer

Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, this musical takes us back to a time to 1985 when rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is jilted at the altar. Shot through the heart, the wedding singer takes his bitterness out on unsuspecting guests. Enter Julia, a gentle waitress who wins his friendship and affection with kind words and encouragement.

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, until November 7. Details: 01245 606505, chelmsford.gov.uk/event-type/theatre

Festival of Remembrance

Join Harlow's Royal Birtish Legion for a Remembrance Day concert and service commemorating all those who have given their lives since WW1 and the many conflicts since. Featuring music and readings, the concert will also feature standards form Royal British Legion branches in the region. All proceeds go to the Royal British Legion Harlow Town branch Poppy Appeal.

Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS, November 8, 7.30pm. Details: 01279 431945, playhouseharlow.com

Back to the 80s

A fundraising concert for mental health charity Havering Mind featuring local Michael Jackson performer Rory J and Colchester tribute band Popgun playing hits such as Livin’ on a Prayer, Dangerzone, Let’s Dance, We Built This City and Sweet Child of Mine.

The Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT, November 8, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk

Empower House

Join host Meera Syal for this night of poetry and theatre organised by Newham Asian Women's Project and Two Monkeys TV to raise awareness of violence against women and children.

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford E15 1BN, November 9. Details: 020 8534 0310, stratfordeast.com

Shakespeare Schools Festival

Four local schools perform abridged Shakespeare plays as part of the UK's largest Youth Drama Festival.

Come along and celebrate the achievements of your local schools whilst enjoying a wonderful evening of entertainment.

The Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT, November 9, 7pm. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk

Ballet Black, Triple Bill

Cassa Pancho's company of black and Asian classically trained dancers perform pieces by Kit Holder (Birmingham Royal Ballet) and Will Tuckett (Royal Ballet). Award-winning choreographer Mark Bruce makes the Company's newest narrative ballet - Second Coming - inspired by Yeats' poem of the same name and Grimm's fairy-tales - a hybrid fairy-tale filled with beauty and darkness, irony and humour and the content of the human heart.

Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS, November 12, 7.30pm. Details: 01279 431945, playhouseharlow.com

Red Imp Comedy

The line-up boasts Roger Monkhouse, Angie McEvoy and Andre Vincent.

Ye Olde Rose and Crown, Hoe Street, Walthamstow, November 12, 8.30pm. Details: 020 8509 3880, yeolderoseandcrowntheatre.co.uk

Sandra Jarman and Friends: Make Room for Art

This group of amateur local artists, Jan Schofield, Jacqueline Jacques and Sandra Jarman, show their paintings of local scenes, scenes from abroad, flowers, birds and butterflies and still lives.

Loughton Art Centre, High Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4LF, until November 12. Details: loughtonartscentre.org

Eat or Heat Benefit Concert

A night of music and song in aid of food bank, Eat or Heat, with MC Nina Benjamin and starring London gospel, reggae, soul and bashment singer JayJayBorn2Sing, North-West London reggae singer Harmonie Deja, hip hop artist Tony As, as well as Asabi Hawah and Winsome Moncrieffe-Mitchell.

Ye Olde Rose and Crown, Hoe Street, Walthamstow, November 13, 8pm. Details: 020 8509 3880, yeolderoseandcrowntheatre.co.uk

Don't Look Now

Hoping to save their troubled marriage after the loss of their young daughter, a couple take a romantic trip to Venice. But then they meet a pair of elderly psychic sisters who claim to be able to see Christine and urgently warn them to leave the city. This haunting drama is full of twists and turns as well as adult nudity and scenes of a sexual nature.

The Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT, until November 14. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk

Anita and Me

The first ever stage adaptation of Meera Syal’s poignant coming-of-age tale follows Meena, the irreverent teenage daughter of the only Punjabi family in the mining village of Tollington who finds herself caught between two worlds when she befriends the impossibly feisty Anita.

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford E15 1BN, until November 21. Details: 020 8534 0310, stratfordeast.com

Art is Your Human Right

Bob and Roberta Smith is the pseudonym of Patrick Brill, leading British contemporary artist and founder of the Leytonstone Centre for Contemporary Art. Enraged by the Government’s downgrading of art in schools, the artist decided to fight back and this exhibition follows his campaigns; from his furious painting, Letter to Michael Gove, to the launch of the Art Party and his attempt to be elected to parliament in 2015.

William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park House, Forest Road, Walthamstow, until January 31. Details: 020 8496 4390, wmgallery.org.uk