Colchester Trades Union Council's 125 Not Out, Waiting Room, St Botolph's, Colchester, tonight, 7.30pm. £3 on the door.

Celebrating 125 years of Trade Union activity in Colchester, there's another cracking line up of musicians, poets, DJs and comedy at the soon to be closed Waiting Room.

Headlining will be London singer/songwriter Glenn Hodge, who will be joined by Colchester musician Philip Marino, poet Richard Earls, and Amy Trigg, who was the recent winner of the Colchester Comedy Festival New Act.

Profits from the evening going to GO4 who run the café and market in the Trinity Church in the centre of town.

Slackfolk, Piatto Café, Priory Walk, Colchester, tomorrow 2pm. Free but donations welcome. 07850 773291.

Highlights for the last month of the year include Bernard Hoskin, a singer/'songwriter from Cambridge who has performed several time at the Colchester Arts Centre, and local heroes East Creek Union, who perform a wonderful old-style of American folk in authentic style.

Lorraine George - Christmas Showtime '16, Charter Hall, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Sunday, 4.30pm. £9.50 adults, £7.50 children. 01206 573948.

Expect plenty of snappy dance numbers, slick musical routines, and more than a little bit of the 'ahhh' factor as children from the Lorraine George Dance School return to Charter Hall for their annual Christmas show.

Mr Pickwick's Christmas, Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, Monday, 7.30pm. £12 adults, £10 concessions, £6 children. 01206 366000.

Robert McCall's visit to our area is almost as much of a harbinger of Christmas than the John Lewis ad. At least Robert actually arrives in December, this time bringing with him a slice of Victoriana, capturing all the zest and humour of Mr Pickwick and his friends as they travel by stagecoach to enjoy an exuberant country Christmas at Dingley Dell.

Sing-a-long-a Muppet Christmas Carol, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Tuesday, doors 7.30pm. £10, £5 concessions. 01206 500900.

Just when you thought the sing-a-long franchise couldn't get any more random, along comes one to the best Christmas film ever.

Witness laughter, redemption and singing food as well Michael Caine as he does some ‘acting’.