Enjoy, by Alan Bennett - Theatre Royal

On the face of it, Enjoy is a straightforward tale of a woman continuing to live in her slum-like back-to-back while it is rebuilt into a living museum of the past.

We find the prime mover behind the development is her estranged son, returning home as a daughter, seemingly to protect his child-like parents against a future they are clearly not ready for.

The ageing couple, convincingly played by Alison Steadman (now best known for the Braithwaites and Gavin & Stacey) and David Troughton (latterly of New Tricks fame), found they were happy discussing their lives with an interloper from the council than with each other. This included frank talk about their sex lives, disability, hopes for the future and regrets of the past.

A sudden death is treated with typical Bennett-style down-to-earth humour paving the way for a no-holds-barred sequence on the potential benefits of death – the ensemble ultimately slightly irked that death was misdiagnosed.

Many questions of life and death are tackled, such as how we don’t appreciate what we have until it’s gone, whether it to cling to what we know or seek new horizons, why we delude ourselves from an obvious truth, and how we put on airs and graces only for an audience.

The characters had an audience on stage throughout, being shadowed by local authority officials, ostensibly there to observe “real life” before the terraces were bulldozed. This was a useful tool for the author, the two main characters becoming remarkably self-aware – and painfully cognisant of the truth behind the hidden lives of their two grown-up offspring.

First performed in 1980, this play ages beautifully, with the constant refrain that “we’re in the 20th century now you know” reminding us that for those re-homed to the new museum, that’s where they would stay. For ever.

Present Laughter - Theatre Royal

Dating from 1939, this Noel Coward play could have provided something of a challenge for both the audience and cast alike.

It proves to be complex, multi-layered and ultimately rewarding.

Bringing the past to life was effortless for the company and after the scene-setting of the first act the audience lapped up both the increasingly chaotic situation comedy and the in-jokes for the aficionados of Coward’s work. The humour was served up in a range of guises and varied from the subtle through to farce and even a touch of slapstick.

Yet this was also a thought-provoking production, Questions are asked of who we really are; how much of one’s life is a performance and how we perform differently to our various different personal audiences.

Perhaps the leading man, Garry Essendine – played by Cold Feet’s Robert Bathurst – really is the lonely performer, and despite all his trappings of wealth and success is merely “advancing with every sign of reluctance into middle age”.

If that’s the case then so are the ladies playing opposite him, and their intricate web of relationships must see beyond that performance. Dorothea Myer-Bennett (Dead Man Talking) as Daphne Stillington is blinded by his sophistication while would-be mistress Joanna Lyppiatt (played by Emma Davies who you may know as Anna De Souza from Emmerdale) and Essendine’s kind-of-ex-wife Liz (Serena Evans from Pie in the Sky and The Thin Blue Line) both think they know what’s best for him.

Tim Bouverie, in his first professional role, is another Essendine fan sucked into his circle and plays with such conviction you wonder if he’ll stalk the lead even after the curtain falls. And with Belinda Lang (2Point4 Children) on stage and also directing it’s a formidable line-up.

It works. It’s a play of its time which stands the test of time and is well worth a look

Remembering Michael Foot (he came to Nottingham, you know!)

Remembering the politician Michael Foot, two main images come to my mind - from when I was a child growing up in Thatcher's Britain.

Of course, we recall his well-publicised appearance at the Cenotaph in a 'donkey jacket' (pictured right) and the disastrous 1983 General Election loss following his publication of what Gerald Kaufman labelled the longest suicide note in history (the 700-page election manifesto).

But we also remember him remaining true to his beliefs and true to his roots, which is something many of his colleagues of today would do well to copy.

His strong principles and commitment to socialist politics may have cost him his one chance to become prime minister, but he probably died with a clear conscience.

He was also a keen football fan and towards the end of his life I was pleased to see him supporting Plymouth Argyle from beneath a swathe of woollies at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.

Strictly Come Dancing Live! Trent FM Arena

Entertainment was the name of the game for this sequined extravanagza - even if the ladies' costumes were a little daring for a Tuesday night in Hockley.

But the risqué was nicely balanced with some beautiful floaty numbers, and both Austin Healey and Mark Ramprakash also flashed the flesh, maybe in a bid to win the all-important vote!

The feeling you get from seeing Strictly unfold live in front of your eyes is a world away from watching it on the box in the corner of the living room.

It's not just the celebrity element. You can really appreciate the hard work from the amateurs and the precision and skill of the professionals.

Even the judges stepped on to the dance floor, with Bruno and Craig getting up-close and personal with an audience who lapped up their every move. And a welcome return for Arlene got one of the biggest rounds of applause at the start of the show.

The professional dancers shimmied a superb ensemble opening turn to warm up the crowd and this set a near-impossible bar for the competing couples to aim for...

The line-up of energetic celebs also boasted Ricky Groves, Chris Hollins, Ali Bastian, Natalie Cassidy, Zoe Lucker and Kelly Brook.

Among the professionals, the crowd was particularly wowed by Lilia Kopylova, whose red-hot tango set pulses racing.

It was good to see a full house at the Arena so soon after seasonal expenditure - but who'd have wanted to miss out on all this glitz and glamour?

Before the finales of flaming pyrotechnics and fond farewells from our new friends on the dance floor, the winner for the opening night was crowned. Take a bow, Austin Healey.

This tour is back in February, by popular demand, so grab a chance before the penny-pinchers at the BBC pull the plug.

Cinderella - Palace Theatre, Newark

The well-picked bunch of performers hits the mark at every turn in a fairy tale couple of hours of festive fun.

Naomi Slater was the perfect Cinders. Everything you could hope for – and more, with a winning smile and just a hint every now and again that she was really enjoying herself.

And Darrock and Howe, billed as Britian’s ugliest sisters, really are.

But Martin Platt from Corrie, or should I say actor Sean Wilson, was in charge - as Buttons. Much more at home being himself or doing asides or impressions than when he was trotting out the gags, our kids loved him and he was a firm favourite with this matinee audience.

Countered by Emmerdale’s Daniel Brocklebank (who has a fantastic singing voice) as the prince, there’s a real battle of the soaps in Newark this Christmas!

Anyone with children aged six or so will know the Fairy Godmother, Nicole Davis. She used to be one of the faces of CBeebies on TV, and her stock rose with the dads in the crowd as she flitted about in a barely-there outfit for her Strictly Come Dancing skit.

Highlights for me were the magical transformation of the rats, lizards and pumpkin into a coach with REAL horses – and where Cinderella’s rags turned into a glittering ball gown in a split second… thanks to the magic of theatre!

This, and an absorbing fox-hunting scene with superb performances from all the dancers, the kids from Tozer Studios included, truly captured the spirit of panto.

Here Come The Girls (Anastacia, Chaka Khan, Lulu) - Royal Concert Hall

Three distinctive voices and three very distinctive ladies here.

With a combined age of about 156, it's hard for them to peddle the "girls" myth.

Yet mere girls in the true sense of the world just wouldn't do this show justice. You need three strong women.

Almost every number a team effort, the show also played to their individual strengths.

I'm still not a fan of Lulu Kennedy-Cairns OBE (61). She's been plugging away since the mid-60s and although she earned some respect tonight she was the weak link among some very strong voices.

Of course there was the American, Chaka Khan (56), best known for the late 70s hit I'm Every Woman, the girls' curtain-raiser. She was the graceful elder stateswoman of the trio. Feel For You and Respect were among her big solo numbers and yet while she wowed with her disco and up-tempo catalogue, sadly her wonderful voice became somewhat indistinct for many of the soul classics.

The lovely Anastacia (a mere 41) proved the brightest star.

How she sprinted, jumped and moved around the stage in those heels remains a mystery.

Taking a lead in Dancing in the Street and (rather cheekily) Relight my Fire she was also allowed to perform her own biggest hits solo: Left Outside Alone and I'm Outta Love brought the house down.

Together, the girls sang along and danced to their favourite songs down the decades. An all-too-short disco medley, a meaty Motown set, the dancers and a couple of anthems set off this well thought-out show perfectly.

But I've never really been a fan of that loud, little Lulu lady. Perhaps that's because they always get her to sing that Shout song – and so she did, to one of the biggest cheers of the night.

But it didn't work for me.

W.A.S.P. - Rock City

This was a gig to blow away the cobwebs, with an adoring crowd lapping up every second of a turbo-charged set from Blackie Lawless and the boys.

Granted, he's the only original band member from the group that set up in 1982, but he carries the show, works the crowd, plays the guitar and leads the non-stop vocals.

The world tour they're on is to promote the new album, Babylon – and the title track, Babylon's Burning, went down a storm with the crowd. With its overtones of comment on what's happening in the Middle East, its video backdrop blew us away.

A clever addition that suits the more intimate venue, the projected backdrop from previous concerts gave a real stadium atmosphere at times, even though it was in danger of leaving us somewhat confused as to Blackie's travelling through time to bring us favourites from years gone by.

He stood on stage, slightly less coiffeured than I'd expected (without the trademark highlights too), and wringing wet by the end of an exhausting 90 minutes.

Opening the set with On Your Knees, wowing us with Love Machine and slipping in a couple from the Electric Circus album, this was a reminder that while some of the bands that found success alongside W.A.S.P., these guys keep on going from strength to strength. Blind in Texas as the encore was the icing on the cake.

Not quite as much codpiece and cavorting as in the past, maybe, but the set moved incredibly quickly and the evening just flew by.

A Christmas Chuckle - Royal Concert Hall

An early reminder of what Christmas is all about, though not among the Chuckles' best, I'm afraid.

A jam-packed house was absolutely thrilled to see the boys back in town – and with a brand new show.

But there was precious little of the skits we've come to love over the years.

This time there were more mini 'production numbers' with long legged dancers and singing to herald Christmas.

We marvelled at the magician (did he REALLY cut his assistant's head off?) and enjoyed a seasonal neon puppet show (much better than the usual post-interval offering, by the way).

And yet there was something missing. This show fell somewhere between a full-blown panto and a true Chuckle Brothers stage show, like the recent River Rother exploits.

Barry and Paul were superb, of course, with Paul as Ebeneezer learning from Gerroutofit's Christmases past, present and future that he really must learn to enjoy the festivities. No Slacking made a perfect dame and the supporting cast pulled their weight beautifully – even Stinky Walker, who, we were told at the end had become a father half way through the second half, although it didn't show!

There was lots of audience participation, even some kids asked up on stage, and a clever finale of "If I were not upon this stage" which showed off the team in the very best light.

Good fun nonetheless, and perhaps a curtain-raiser to the Chuckles' anniversary tour planned for next year? Let's hope for their more traditional fare.

Adolf Hitler, My Part in His Downfall - Theatre Royal

In the end there are no winners or losers, just the living and the dead.

Yet those who know anything at all about Spike Milligan would realise that although dead now, he was ultimately both a winner and a loser.

Putting the material of four volumes of his war memoirs on stage in this thought-provoking adaptation gives a living, breathing feeling of a conscript’s life in the services.

Putting Spike in the first person in the safe hands of Sholto Morgan (right) in his professional debut was a master stroke.

His Chaplin-esque versatility led the performers of Battery D as they endure life in North Africa, Italy and on to Berlin.

Thirty wonderful revue numbers combine with chilling insights into the horror of war, expertly interwoven such that each change of pace hits home – right between the eyes.

There are some great gags – mostly one-liners – brilliantly quick fire and each dropped into the commentary in exactly the right place to make every word count.

The warning on the cover of the programme was dead right: the performance does indeed contain barrack room humour. But when you’re covering real life like this you can’t avoid it, and it certainly doesn’t offend.

The programme itself was also a comedic master stroke. Not your usual Theatre Royal affair. More a newsprint pamphlet, helpfully inscribed “produced in complete conformity with the required War Office paper economy standards.

Very Spike. And like the officer said, “it’ll all be over by Christmas”. Sadly, no one could tell them which one.

Honeymoon hold-ups

Not many people get to book three honeymoons – but we did.
More than a year before our big day the church was booked, the reception was booked, the vicar was booked, and yes, the honeymoon was booked.
But that year the world was plagued with terrorism and civil disturbance – especially in the places we wanted to visit.

Picture this: Pharaohs and the sphinx, pyramids and camels. It all sounded like the perfect romantic dream.
A Nile cruise in mid-May, taking in the tombs of the ancients as well as a top-notch newlyweds suite and the best view that money could buy.
It was to be the holiday of a lifetime.
The nice people at Voyage Jules Verne were falling over themselves to make it special.
Then, in November, we heard about the tourists being massacred. Sixty people were killed by gunmen at a temple in an incident which halted the tourist trade for months.

It was time to visit the travel agent in search of another romantic break.
Picture this: Bali. The mystic east. Beaches, temples, wildlife and sunshine.
It all sounded like the perfect romantic dream.
It was the best time of the year for Indonesia and we managed to get the honeymoon suite at the very hotel we had our eye on in the brochure.
It was to be the holiday of a lifetime.
There was a little tension on the islands over the New Year period, but nothing to worry about.

We were married on May 9 on the sunniest day of the year. Our first dance was Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, followed by Perfect Day, which it was. Then a week to relax before flying out for ten days in the sun.

But midweek, news came through that riots were spreading across Jakarta, the capital, after a student was shot by police.
Buildings were set alight and shops were looted. It didn’t look good, but we sat tight at home.
The following day, two days before we were due to fly, the phone call from tour operator British Airways finally came. The Foreign Office had stopped all flights.

You can only imagine the anguish and tears. Our honeymoon cancelled: twice.

So it was time to visit the travel agent in search of another romantic break.
Picture this: Turkey. Land of the mosque, friendly locals, apple tea and ancient monuments.
Our stay in Kalkan was to be the holiday of a lifetime. And it was.
Thanks to the expertise of Intertravel in Nottingham, where the manager told us: “You’ll love this place.”

We did. We went back again and again.