Islands in the Stream

Leave your 9 to 5 worries at the door and celebrate the joyous foot-tapping music of the queen and king of country. Bring-the-house-down performances recreate Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’s legendary shows with hits including Jolene, Ruby, Lucille, The Gambler and I Will Always Love You.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT, Tuesday, October 18, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333 queens-theatre.co.uk

The Simon and Garfunkel Story

The fascinating tale of how two boys went on to become the world’s most successful music duo of all time. From their humble beginnings as 50’s Rock n Roll duo ‘Tom & Jerry’, this detailed show presents the songs and stories that shaped them, their dramatic split, their solo careers and culminates with a stunning recreation of their legendary 1981 Central Park reunion concert. Not to be missed!

Harlow Playhouse, Playhouse Square, Harlow, CM20 1LS, Wednesday, October 19, 7.30pm. Details: 01279 431945

Stand By Me

A celebration of one of the world’s biggest selling groups, Ben E King and the Drifters, told in music and brilliant on-screen anecdotes. Evergreen hits include: Under the Boardwalk, Save the Last Dance For Me, Kissin’ in the Back Row, Come On Over to My Place and many more.

Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT, Wednesday, October 19, 7.30pm. Details: 01708 443333

The Crucible

Arthur Miller’s disturbing and thrilling ‘take’ on the Salem Witch-hunts of 1692 still resonates today with the threat that besets us from irrational ideologies and mass hysteria.

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS, until Saturday, October 22, various times. Details: 020 7638 4141

Oil

This play follows the lives of one woman and her daughter in an epic, hurtling crash of empire, history and family. Starring Anne-Marie Duff.

Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, Islington, N1 1TA, until Saturday, November 26, various times. Details: 020 7359 4404

Victorian Entertainments

Roll up to celebrate some of the most popular entertainments of Victorian times performed in a variety of venues from fairground tents to musical stages. Focusing on five colourful characters, follow their stories as we bring the worlds they inhabited to life. Step back in time with wonderfully decorative original posters, handbills, advertisements and tickets – all glorious examples of rare ephemera – alongside contemporary film and sound recordings.

The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB, until Sunday, February 12, 2017. Details: 01937 546546