The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Newark Palace Theatre

You've read the book, seen it on telly at story time – so now make sure you see the play!

It must be something of a challenge to turn a children's book that lasts just five minutes into a full-blown stage production.

And while it only lasts just under an hour, this modern classic was brought to life with such clarity that we didn't really notice how long it took.

A cast of three manage to warm up the audience admirably right from the start so that we are soon joining in from our seats.

And even though the first tantalising sight of the tiger sent some kids whimpering into their parents' arms, we grow to love him and are even a little sad when he exits – after devouring all the food and drink from little Sophie's house. (All the water from the taps, too, if you didn't know already!)

He's seven feet tall, with black and bright orange stripes and while he's a little fierce, he's also a little cheeky and if there are any doubters in the packed house, he soon wins them over!

With lots of singing, joining in and even a little magic, it's no wonder this show is back on the road after a successful tour last year.

Directed by children's entertainment supremo David Wood, it's a show that helps you step right into the familiar pages of Judith Kerr's famous book, which now stands as a children's classic. This show certainly does it justice.

Chuckle Trek - The Lost Generation, Royal Concert Hall

WELL-WORN family favourite skits were definitely the high spots in this mixed show from TV's most famous brothers, Paul and Barry Chuckle.

Perhaps it was the unfamiliar surroundings of the Starship Exercise, rather than more comfortable ground on Planet Earth, or perhaps the stop-start nature of the show, due to a couple of magic acts and a neon puppetry session being wedged in for good measure.

The best reaction was always for the Chuckles' tried and tested material – the opening song, promising something "pink and soft" for the audience, or the mums and dads up on stage for a messy rendition of The Three Bears, for instance.

The lads' bunk bed routine, where the top bunk's trapdoor drops Paul onto the bottom while Barry's avoiding an alien intruder, got the biggest contribution from the kids in a packed matinee house.

Every child was screaming "it's behind you!" before the inevitable payoff (where the alien takes one look at Paul and runs away). Simple, self-demeaning and fun. And it brought the house down.

Interventions from No Slacking and Gerroutofit (as Captain James T Burke and Dark Wader) pushed the boundaries a little. Patchy, yes – but I'll be back to see them at Christmas for a one-off panto. It's what they do best.

Anton and Erin: Cheek to Cheek, Royal Concert Hall

I'm no big fan of TV's Strictly, in fact I only tend to tune in for Brucie.

But when the nice lady at the Royal Centre said she could squeeze us into this sell-out show starring Anton du Beke and Erin Boag I was all the more intrigued.

Perhaps there was nothing on the telly. Or perhaps it was the sheer power of the telly drawing the crowds to what, if we're honest, was a night of entertainment from years gone by, full of spotlights and sequins.

And yet the magic was definitely there. From the moment the Manchester Concert Orchestra struck up their first chord to the second that Anton and Erin glided in from the wings there was a certain something in the air.

Then the supporting vocalist Richard Shelton (of Brat Pack Confidential and Emmerdale, oddly) was introduced, along with three times world salsa champions, Chris Marques and Jaclyn Spencer.

They took off to the strains of Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White with the superbly laid-back first trumpet almost begging you to help it along.

That followed Anton and Erin performing to Sing Sing Sing – and the tone for the night was set.

Like I say, I'm no expert but I spotted some Latin in there, a bit of swing and some slinky moves that combined ballroom with modern and brought us the foxtrot and a waltz.

Popular tunes, daring moves and unconditional love from the audience. I'll bet Anton and Erin went home happy.

CBeebies Live, Arena

THE scenery was sparse but the gusto and energy of the performers was exactly what you'd expect from some of the BBC's top kiddies' stars.

And despite a lot of costumed characters, it was the real-life actors who proved themselves in a rather more tricky atmosphere than that of the cosy studios at CBeebies Towers.

The stars of the show were the humans: Justin, Andy and, of course, Stephanie from LazyTown.

They worked their young audience well and are obviously more seasoned professionals than you might give them credit for, and perhaps we're becoming blasé about their forever-repeated routines on the telly.

And then there's Mr Tumble. Justin's alter-ego proved to be a real hit and took the children to new heights of hysteria. Yet while we might have been expecting the colourful clown to return for a spell in the second half, we found his exposure was harshly rationed to a skit quite early on.

Never mind, seeing the MBE-decorated entertainer felt like something special – and something to be savoured. We can say we were there!

Which is more than some people who wanted to be in the audience. How gangs of people can contrive to continue arriving until well past half an hour into the show is a mystery.

Some of the less-favoured costume characters were reduced to what might be called bit-parts but most had their own section of the show, which comprised a series of scenarios trying to help the gang find some treasure.

So we enjoyed the Jakers crowd, the Koala Brothers, the Tweenies, Underground Ernie and Postman Pat.

Such shame then, that the biggest cheer was reserved for the Teletubbies. There's no accounting for taste.