1 An Evening with the Tannahill Weavers, Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, tonight, 8pm. £13. 01206 366000.

SCOTTISH folk heroes, the Tannahill Weavers, are set to weave their magic in Colchester again.

They specialise in jigs, reels, ballads and lullabies, some written in traditional style by founder member, guitarist and lead vocalist Roy Gullane, who formed the Tannahill Weavers with Phil Smillie in Paisley, near Glasgow, in 1968. The fiery four-man band is completed by award-winning fiddle player John Martin and three times BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the year finalist, piper Lorne MacDougall.

2 Hairspray, Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, until Tomorrow, 7.30pm and 2.30pm (Saturdays). £21.25 to £15 plus concessions. 01206 573948.

Despite all the controversy over casting, and there’s no getting away from it, at its essence this is another cracking all singing, all dancing production from the Colchester Operatic Society. Performances of note include Sophia Twohey as Tracy and the hilarious Leanne Field as her friend Penny. If you can get a ticket, get one.

3 Laughter Zone Comedy Club, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, tonight, doors 8pm. £10, £8 concessions. 01206 500900.

This was the place where it kind of all started for the likes of Michael McIntyre, Bill Bailey and Eddie Izzard and who knows where the tough comedy road may take those on the line-up tonight. Whatever happens to them, you’re guaranteed a good laugh.

4 The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Headgate Theatre, Chapel Street North, Colchester, Tuesday until February 10, 7.30pm, £15, £12. 01206 366000.

Paper Lantern Theatre Company, who are based in Ipswich, are fast becoming one of the most exciting companies in the East. They’ve already impressed with their ‘movie’ like rendition of The Graduate and now they’re turning their attention to another story that has had its fair share of cinematic versions, Miller’s searing account of the Salem Witch Trials, with more than a little hint of the McCarthy Trials that were going on at the same time he wrote this masterpiece.

5 Charles Holland: A House For Essex and Other Stories, Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester, Tuesday, 7pm. £8. 01206 713700.

Charles is the architect behind A House For Essex, the creative collaboration between Grayson Perry and FAT Architecture. In this lecture, Charles will tell the story of the architecture of A House For Essex via a journey across the county, from its industrial London fringe to its agricultural north. Along the way the talk will take in inter-war plotland communities, post war new towns, Sixties university buildings and late 20th century suburbia, showing how the design of the house reflects its surroundings as well as a number of other architectural influences. A House for Essex was the FAT’s final project. Following which, Charles set up Charles Holland Architects. He is also Professor of Architecture at the University of Brighton.