• Circling the Square Art Show, Mersea Museum, High Street, West Mersea, tomorrow until Monday, 10am until 4pm. Free.

Fast becoming the venue for art shows on the island, the High Street museum has four planned for 2017 with the first taking place next weekend.

It is being organised as part of the family celebrations to mark the museum’s 40th birthday by descendants of the principal founder, Stanley Hills.

Circling the Square is a three-day exhibition which will feature work in various media by Moyia Stow and Erica Hart, the daughters of Stanley, and his granddaughters Natasha Hills and Tania Harrington.

  • Blooming Marvellous, St Leonard's Church Hall, Lexden Road, Colchester, until tomorrow, 7.30pm. £7 under 11s free. 01206 575565.

A LIGHT musical comedy written and directed by Steve Whiteman is the new work being put on by the St Leonard's Church Theatre Group.

In aid of the church and the Children's Society, the play features, among others, Peter and Julie Hinchcliffe, Esther Heptonstall and Dave Young in the cast.

  • Poseurs by Reese-Lee Ellis, Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, 7.45pm. £10. 01206 366000.

More local writing thanks to Coggeshall-based NJ Theatre Academy's Reese-Lee Ellis.

Poseurs is a new comedy set in a West London beauty salon where, with the Salon of the Year contest coming up, ruthless owner Siobhan will do anything to win. But can her dysfunctional team help her grab the coveted prize?

  • Martin McNeill, Rose and Crown, The Quay, Wivenhoe, tomorrow, 8pm. Free. 01206 826371.

THIS former editor of the Gazette newspaper just also happens to be one of the finest bottleneck blues guitarists around.

Following his appearance there last year, Martin, who now lives in Leigh, makes a welcome return to the Wivenhoe pub for a set that's sure to delight.

  • Teddy Bear's Picnic Concert, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Sunday, doors 2pm. £6 adults, £3 children. 01206 500900.

ONE of the town's loveliest musical institutions giving budding young musicians their first taste of what an orchestra looks and sounds like.

Pieces include Brahms’ Hungarian Dance and Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King as well, of course, the Teddy Bear's Picnic.