What to see this week

Roll up for Barnum!

Step right up and enter the dazzling world of PT Barnum, where imagination and ambition know no bounds. The Watermill’s Barnum summer spectacular continues until September 8. Delight at every sight, wonder and miracle as the creator of spectacle comes to town with a sensational show featuring a whole host of characters. Hand in hand with wife Charity, Barnum’s life and career twists and turns as he schemes and dreams his way to headier heights. However, the irresistible pull of an ever-bigger humbug comes at a cost, and the people paying are usually those on whom Barnum tramples, on the way to the top. https://www.watermill.org.uk/

Bluegrass tradition draped in Gothic Americana

From Melbourne, husband and wife duo of The Weeping Willows play ACE Space tomorrow (Friday, 8pm). This multi-award winning duo represented Australia in BBC Radio 2’s Commonwealth of Folk and have been championed by Mark Radcliffe. Steeped in the Bluegrass tradition and draped in Gothic Americana imagery, they regale their audiences with stories of sunshine and romance, God and the Devil, murder and decay. Special guests opening the evening are Reading duo Tomorrow Bird making their return to ACE Space. Jen Bird is former theatre actress who has performed lead roles in Jesus Christ Superstar and The King & I before being bitten by the songwriting bug. Simon Driscoll began his musical journey as a classical pianist before becoming the frontman of folk-rock band Burnt Tomorrow. Together they have also written and produced five original musicals. https://acespace.org.uk

Escape Room Detectives

Are you prepared for an escape room experience with a difference? Join Chief Inspector Betty Diddit at Arlington Arts tomorrow (Friday, 4pm, 5.30pm, 8.30pm) in Escape Room Detectives and unravel a cold case from the 1930s. With just 60 minutes on the clock, you’ll need to decipher puzzles, uncover clues, identify suspects, explore motives, and ultimately solve a mystery that has confounded detectives for decades... Pre-booking essential with a maximum of six or eight players a team (suitable for age 14+). Bar service available. https://arlington-arts.com/

Uncanny

Last year Danny Robins asked the question – do ghosts exists? And if not, why do we see them? Almost 25,000 people at theatres across the country turned up to find out the answers, in the biggest live investigation into the paranormal. Ever. You now have another chance to join Danny and his team of experts at Oxford Playhouse on Sunday and Monday for Uncanny: I Know What I Saw, a terrifying and thought-provoking evening featuring chilling real-life stories of the supernatural experienced by ordinary people from ordinary places, brought to life on stage through thrilling theatrical invention in a mix of projection, sound and spellbinding storytelling. Whether you are #TeamBeliever or #TeamSceptic, a long-term Uncanny fan or just interested in the paranormal, you’re welcome to Uncanny: I Know What I Saw. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/