5 Things to Do in Nottingham This Week

If you’re a fan of all things ghosts and ghouls, yer gonna love this one. Join other Nottingham fear fans on a creepy culinary journey around the city centre. Ezekial Bone, a.k.a Mr Bone himself, will lead you on a tour around the Lace Market, spilling some haunted secrets and telling you the most gruesome of stories from Hoodtown’s past. As you hear these true tales of murder, witches, misery and mayhem, you’ll also get to try some tasty Halloween food and drink delights from the Cock and Hoop, The Angel and Pit and Pendulum. Honestly, there ain’t no better combination than frights and food - is there, duck?
Monday 23 and Wednesday 25 October, 6.30pm, £27.50, Cock and Hoop, event link

Who knew watching two blokes fighting on stage at the Nottingham Playhouse could be so entertaining? One older, one younger, both desperate to prove that they are the strongest and the best. In what’s been described as a cross between The Office and Australian cage style fighting, this is a darkly humorous and surprisingly tender piece of dance theatre. There’s bits with extreme physical risk taking, a few graceful movements thrown in and a nice side of slow-mo fighting sequences. But for realz, it ain’t all about the fighting. This show explores the power play between men, the fragility of the body and questions our culture's desire to always having to achieve summat. Sounds like a perfect piece of mid-week entertainment.
Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 October, 8pm, £12-£18, Nottingham Playhouse, event link

Here’s your chance to see the Royal Opera House’s take on a classic and much loved tale. We all know how it goes; Alice is daydreaming away at a garden party on a sunny afternoon, when she is surprised to see her parent’s friend transform into a white rabbit. She follows him down a hole and the rest is history. The production will see all the usual suspects, including the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat, but will be accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack of sweeping melodies and a stage full of eye-popping designers. Oh, and of course, it’s gorra cast full of world class dancers. Sounds absolutely delightful.
Monday 23 October, 7.30pm, £11-£13.50, Savoy Cinema, event link

In the midst of a doomy and gloomy October, we’d pay anything for someone to give us a good giggle to make us forget about the horrible weather and the impending stress of Christmas shopping. And it’s almost as though the folks down at the Canal House can read our minds, as it’s time for them to put on another one of their famous £1 comedy nights. Best part is, at an open mic like this yer never know what yer gonna find; top acts practising their new sets? The up-and-coming comedian which is about to be the next big thing? Who bleddy knows, but for only £1 of our hard earned cash, it’s gonna be worth it.
Wednesday 25 October, 7.30pm, £1, Canal House, event link

It’s that dreaded time of the year again. October half-term. The kiddies will no doubt be driving yer crazy within the first two days and you’ll be desperately searching for something that will keep them entertained and out yer hair. Well, search no more. Lakeside Arts are running a wilderness survival session for kids aged 10-13 which teaches them everything they need to know about outdoor survival. In one day, they’ll learn fire craft, the art of nature shelter building, how to tie a simple knot and how to use survival tools. So, if they really are driving yer barmy this half term, at least you’ll now know they could make it in the wild if you were to kick ‘em out the house.
Wednesday 25 October, 10.30am-3.30pm, £12, Highfields Park, event link