1. Shappi Khorsandi: Mistress & Misfit, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, tonight, doors 7.30pm. £15, £13 concessions. 01206 500900.

The popular stand-up is back at the arts centre with her latest show, which rather compares the life Lady Hamilton with her own. Unsung heroine, who for too many years has been known as just ‘Nelson’s mistress’, moved mountains to haul herself from scullery maid to Lady Hamilton.

2. Plastic, Mercury Studio Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, until tomorrow, 8pm and 2.30pm (Saturday). £13.50 plus discounts. 01206 573948.

Essex writer Kenneth Emson was the inaugural winner of the Mercury’s playwriting competition and while we await eagerly for the result of that, here’s a chance to see another of his plays by the excellent Poleroid Theatre company. Examining the scars left by school on adults in later life, expect another searing account of real Essex lives.

3. Pet Needs, Kill The Witness and Kulk, V Bar, High Street, Colchester, 8pm. Free Entry.

One of Colchester’s brightest and noisiest bands make another hometown appearance this time with two fellow indie punk rock outfits.

4. Pieces of String, Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, until May 5, 7.30pm and 2.30pm (Thursdays and Saturdays), £27 to £12 plus discounts. 01206 573948.

If social media chatter is anything to go by then this should be the hottest ticket in town. Gus Gowland’s new musical, set during the war and present day, is getting its premiere here in Colchester, after which, who knows. But don’t be the person who missed out on the chance to see it here first.

5. Colchester Heritage Tour with High Steward Sir Bob Russell - Tour X, starts from Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Sunday, 10am. Donation £5. 01206 500900.

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, knight of the realm and all round Colchester history buff has introduced a new tour into his busy touring schedule and this time X definitely does mark the spot. While Tours A & B focus on the town centre, tour X is ‘A Roam Around Roman Colchester’ with its main feature being walking the entire length of the Roman Circus.

Once again donations from the tour will go towards funding a statue celebrating the lives of the Taylor sisters, famous for the nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.