Next week Engelbert Humperdinck’s fairy-tale opera Hansel & Gretel will be staged at the Mercury Theatre.

Over the last few months this joint project between the Pimlott Foundation and the Theatre has actively engaged a range of arts and education partners in the local area including Essex primary and secondary schools.

In this production young performers from our region will be working alongside professional musicians and singers. From next Thursday there are various performances with tickets from £10. Box Office (01206) 573948.

The Apex in Bury St Edmunds offers a unique opportunity to hear Bury-born Dominic Seldis, Principal Double Bass with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam.

Dominic may be a familiar face to TV viewers as a judge on the BBC TV Maestro programme. He will be the soloist in Bottesini’s Elegy and Paganini’s virtuosic ‘Moses’ Variations accompanied by the Wolsey Orchestra under Ben Palmer.

Also on the programme is Sibelius Symphony No.2 and Elgar’s Overture, Froissart. Further information (01284) 758000.

The Lion Walk United Reformed Church Lunchtime Concert series continues next Wednesday with Trio Passione playing Dvorak’s Dumky Trio and the following week Gill Wilson (soprano) and Ian Ray (piano) perform.

Light lunches are available in the Church Hall from noon with the concerts at 1pm.