• Animal Noise, Tropic of Xhao, Ghosts of Men, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, tomorrow, doors 9pm. £15. 01206 500900.

SEE 2017 in with one of the town’s biggest bands.

Animal Noise have had an incredible few years lately, playing at T in the Park, Hyde Park and getting airplay on Radio One and next year looks set to be just as exciting for Josh, Jack and Birdy. But before all of that, in what will be a special fundraiser for the Colchester Arts Centre.

  • Theatre of Widdershins presents Rapunzel, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, until Tuesday. Various times. £5.95. 01206 500900.

ENJOY a Christmas show with a difference courtesy of Andy Lawrence and his magical puppets, colourful sets, and a funny side-ways look at a classic fairytale story.

  • Dick Whittington, Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, until January 8. Various times, £26.50 to £10. Call 01206 573948.

EVERYONE’S saying this is one of the best Mercury pantos yet and who am I to disagree.

There’s plenty of laughs, loads of fun and some pretty slick dance routines.

  • Penny Arcade, Three Wise Monkeys, High Street, Colchester, tonight, doors 9pm. £5. 01206 543014.

ONE of Colchester's most popular and successful bands currently undergoing a bit of a renaissance following their reforming back in 2013.

Expect plenty of old favourites as well as some newly penned tracks.

  • A Christmas Kaleidoscope, Sentinel Gallery, Chapel Road, Wivenhoe, until tomorrow, 10am to 5pm. Free. 01206 827490 and Lee Grandjean: Home Truths, North House Gallery, The Walls, Manningtree, until tomorrow, from 10am. Free. 01206 392717.

A LAST chance to catch two colourful local art exhibitions, the first in Wivenhoe which is a joint showcase of some of the best artists in and around the estuary town.

Meanwhile in Manningtree, the excellent North House Gallery is bursting with life thanks to sculptor Lee Grandjean's energetic curvaceous works.