Ten of the Best - your guide to what to catch on stage around Notts in the days ahead

1 Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Mansfield Palace Theatre, Saturday November 22 to New Year's Eve

It’s the fairest pantomime of all – and it’s taking to the stage in Mansfield. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs promises to be packed with everything audiences love about pantomime: a wicked stepmother, a poisoned apple, a magic mirror, sparkling dance numbers, glittering costumes and spectacular sets.

The show features an array of talent. Prince Fredrick is played by Joseph Dockree, who trained at The Royal Ballet School and Laine Theatre Arts and has graced the West End stage in Mrs Doubtfire, Mary Poppins and Cabaret, as well as performing internationally in Beauty and the Beast in Paris and Dance of the Vampires in Berlin.

Emilie du Leslay enchants audiences as Snow White, bringing her radiant charm and outstanding vocals to the title role. A graduate of ArtsEd with credits including Starlight Express in Germany, Wind in the Willows in the West End and an international tour of Les Misérables, Emilie is no stranger to bringing fairytale heroines to life, having played Alice, Wendy and Princess Jasmine in previous pantomime seasons.

Joining them is an exceptional line-up of much-loved panto favourites and television stars. Katrina Bryan, adored by families nationwide from her appearances in CBeebies’ Nina and the Neurons and Molly & Mack, takes a deliciously wicked turn as the Wicked Queen.

Mansfield favourite Ben Harlow returns by popular demand as Dame Dilly Donut, bringing his trademark warmth, humour and outrageous sense of fun, while Adam Moss is back as the irrepressible Muddles, guaranteeing his unique brand of comedy chaos. Completing the line-up are Snow White’s seven sensational dwarfs played by Hayley Burroughs, Denise Coppen, Willie Coppen, Emily Dyer, Simeon Dyer, Kieran DuMont and Ben Holmes.

Visit mansfieldpalace.co.uk or call 01623 463133 to book.

2 Opera North: La bohème, Wednesday November 19, Thursday November 20 and Sunday November 23, Susanna, Friday November 21 and The Big Opera Mystery, Sunday November 23, Theatre Royal, Nottingham

Grand opera with a modern edge is heading to Nottingham – with a treat in store for youngsters too. Opera North will bring three productions to the Theatre Royal – La bohème, The Big Opera Mystery and Susanna.

Phyllida Lloyd’s acclaimed production of Puccini’s La bohème captures student life in Paris in the early 1960s - but equally it does not shy away from depicting the devastation death brings when it touches the lives of a group of young friends.

Building on the success of The Big Opera Adventure which delighted younger audiences last year, The Big Opera Mystery invites mini sleuths to put their crime-solving skills to the test as they try to catch an expert thief, all to the accompaniment of some great operatic arias. Written and directed by Jonathan Ainscough with design by Bek Palmer, the new musical extravaganza features live music from the Orchestra of Opera North and promises an ideal introduction to opera for everyone.

And Opera North joins in with its Leeds neighbours Phoenix Dance Theatre for the fourth time to bring one of the most operatic of Handel’s English oratorios, Susanna, to the stage. Dance and opera are combined in a powerful contemporary reimagining of the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders.

Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.

3 The Amy Winehouse Band, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, Thursday November 27

They were with Amy Winehouse live and on record, all the way from her beginnings performing in London pubs to the Grammys and the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury. Now they are coming to Nottingham, keeping Winehouse’s musical legacy alive and providing younger fans with the chance to hear these modern classic songs in person for the first time.

The band perform songs from throughout her extraordinary career including Rehab, Back to Black, Tears Dry On Their Own, Valerie, Love Is A Losing Game and more.

They are led by Winehouse’s long term musical director and bass player Dale Davis, and both he and the band were musical consultants on the recent biopic Back to Black.

The band are fronted by Bronte Shandé, while the show features on-screen visuals and unique footage.

Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.

4 Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, Thursday November 20

The musical maestro and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra are joined by special guest Imelda May. The show will also feature the ‘Queen of Boogie Woogie’ Ruby Turner, as well as the outstanding vocals of Louise Marshall and Sumudu Jayatilaka, performing an array of classics that promise to have fans on their feet. Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.

5 Wollaton Hall Light Trail, Wednesday November 26 until New Year’s Eve

Families can embark on a glittering adventure on the new-look trail. Visitors are promised never-before-seen installations on a trail that lasts for almost a mile, with enchanting surprises at every turn.

There will also be a chance to warm up by the fire, toast marshmallows, and sip mulled wine or hot chocolate, with delicious food available from local independent vendors. For those who want to end the evening in style, there is an Alpine-inspired private chalet for eight to ten people. Visit www.winterlighttrail.co.uk/wollaton to book or for more information.

6 Light Post Farm, White Post Farm, Newark, Saturday November 22 to Tuesday December 23

One of the East Midlands’ most magical festive experiences returns with a new after-dark Christmas trail, bringing together the team behind the region’s biggest family festival, Gloworm, with the award-winning White Post Farm. The trail has been completely redesigned, weaving in new features including a revamped pond and pier, as well as introducing special dog-friendly evenings for the very first time. Following the positive reception from families at its launch last year, the illuminated trail promises even more festive sparkle, enchanting installations, and plenty of chances to see the farm favourites in a whole new light. The fields of Farnsfield will once again be transformed by more than 250,000 sparkling lights, casting the farm in a dazzling new glow. Visit www.gigantic.com/light-post-farm-tickets to book.

7 Supreme Queen, Majestic Theatre, Retford, Saturday November 22

The production brings together some of the finest Queen tribute performers in the world, complemented by authentic stage settings and sound and lighting effects. Visit www.majesticretford.org to book.

8 Aurora Orchestra, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, Tuesday November 25

It’s been twenty years since Aurora Orchestra tore up the rule book and made its name worldwide as a boundary-breaking ensemble, creating extraordinary musical experiences by incorporating drama and choreography and making even the most familiar classical works feel new-minted by performing them entirely from memory.

In this eagerly anticipated return to Nottingham, Aurora brings a quartet of contrasting classics, beginning with Mozart’s zesty overture to his hit opera, The Marriage of Figaro. Elgar’s unstoppable Introduction and Allegro is the perfect showcase for Aurora’s fleet-footed strings and there are more violin fireworks when popular British soloist, Chloe Hanslip, walks the high wire in Prokofiev’s virtuosic Second Violin Concerto. Finally, Mendelssohn’s breezy, muchloved Symphony, the ‘Italian’, gets the Aurora treatment. Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.

9 Pop Will Eat Itself, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, Thursday November 20

The boundary-breaking West Midlanders are back with their melange of industrial rock, techno, hip hop and punk rock, creating what they call “sci-fi anthems”. Visit seetickets.com/tour/pop-will-eat-itself to book.

10 Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle, Nottingham Playhouse, Thursday November 20

The Juggle is a new show from multi-award winning comedian Suzi Ruffell as she strives to be a good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good friend and a good person. Suzi has appeared on Live at the Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, The Last Leg and QI. Visit nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk or call 0115 941 9419 to book.