What's on in East London this week

Big Girls Don’t Cry

Experience the iconic sounds of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons authentically recreated by a phenomenal cast and live band.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT, Tuesday, January 15, and Wednesday, January 16, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk

Real Diamond – The Jazz Singer Tour

Living legend Neil Diamond has now retired after an incredible career selling over 100 million records worldwide. Neil’s best known album, The Jazz Singer, was released in 1981. Expect all your favourite songs from the album, plus more Diamond classics, in this new show.

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Friday, January 18, 7.45pm. Details: 01245 606505 chelmsford.gov.uk

The Unreturning

In a British northern coastal town, three young men are coming home. In 1918 George returns from the Western Front. In 2013 Frankie is back from his final tour of Afghanistan. And some time in the not-too-distant future Nat returns from an overseas refugee camp to what was his hometown. The Unreturning explores the profound effect that war has on young lives, and asks what does coming home really mean?

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN, Wednesday, January 16, to Saturday, February 2, various times. Details: 020 8534 0310 stratfordeast.com

The Queen of Spades

Live from the Royal Opera House. Tchaikovsky's most ambitious opera receives star treatment in Stefan Herheim's staging, with a cast including Aleksandrs Antonenko, Felicity Palmer and Eva-Maria Westbroek

Chelmsford City Theatres, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1JG, Tuesday, January 22, 6.45pm. Details: 01245 606505 chelmsford.gov.uk

Out of the Hat

When Doris and Delilah wake up to find something strange and sparkly has fallen from the sky, they are inspired to put on the world’s greatest magic show. But how do you make real magic happen? What ingredients do you need and who can help? Along the way they encounter some fabulous characters, including a transformative moth, a band of musical frogs, an artistic spider and a sassy glow-worm who all help to create their dream. A story about friendship and true magic. Full to the brim with lively songs by the talented Tom Gray of Gomez, this is a spectacular theatre experience for all ages.

Redbridge Drama Centre, Churchfields, South Woodford, E18 2RB, Thursday, January 17, and Friday, January 18, 1.30pm and 5pm. Details: 020 8708 8800 redbridgedramacentre.co.uk

The Enchanted Garden

William Morris was a key figure in the development of domestic garden design, helping to popularise the Arts and Crafts garden among the artistic middle class in England and the US. His gardens at Red House and Kelmscott Manor supplied endless inspiration to Morris, his family and friends. The Enchanted Garden explores how Morris's contemporaries and subsequent generations of artists - from the Pre-Raphaelites to the Bloomsbury Group - have responded to the allure of garden spaces, using them as stages for the magical, menacing and romantic. Many works in the exhibition reference real gardens that still enchant visitors today.

William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park House, 531 Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4PP, until Sunday, January 27. Details: 020 8496 4390 wmgallery.org.uk

Cats, Humans and the Good Life

What can cats teach us about how to live? The independence of cats is one of the features most admired by those of us who love them. Given their evolutionary history as solitary hunters, it is all the more extraordinary that one particular type of cat – Felis silvestris, a small and sturdy tabby – should have been able to spread worldwide as a result of learning to live with human beings. Join philosopher John Gray as he explores the relationship between humans and cats, the benefits they bring us, their sense of self and capacity for contentment, and the many other fascinating characteristics of this independently dependent creature.

The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB, Wednesday, January 23, 7pm. Details: 01937 546546 bl.uk

London Short Film Festival

Broaching its sixteenth year, London Short Film Festival has been recognised as the premiere UK showcase for cutting edge home-grown and international short film. The first significant date on the UK’s film calendar, each January sees diverse audiences of 10,000+ flock to LSFF helming some of London’s most historic cinematic venues, from the Institute of Contemporary Arts to BFI Southbank, Curzon Soho to Dalston’s Grade II listed Rio.

Various venues in London, Friday, January 11, to Sunday, January 20. Details: shortfilms.org.uk