It’s that time of the year again when the Mold venue’s ever popular rock ‘n’ roll panto takes to the stage. Peter Rowe and Alan Ellis promise another fun-filed extravaganza to match their past hits like Jack and The Beanstalk and Beauty and the Beast. A multi-talented cast of 10 mix panto traditions with sensational rock ‘n’ roll classics such as Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, It’s Raining Men and Try A Little Tenderness. 0845 330 3565.

NICO ICON PLAY (The Lowry, Salford Quays until Nov 22)

Multi-media show exploring the life of Christa Paffgen, model, actress and singer with the Velvet Underground. Starring Stella Grundy of 90s group Intastella and featuring a special guest appearance by Arthur Brown. 0870 787 5788

OUR BENNY (Liverpool Empire until Nov 22)

Based on the Silas Hocking novel, Anne Dalton’s Our Benny is an emotive tale of a young orphan boy’s struggle to survive on the harsh streets of Liverpool during the intense poverty of the Victorian era. A classic rags to riches tale, the show tells the life story of Benny Bates as he claws his way up from humble street urchin to eventual gentleman. 0844 847 2525

HAY FEVER (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester until Nov 22)

Noel Coward’s classic comedy is the latest presentation from the Chester Theatre Club. Set in 1924, the plot of Hay Fever revolves around the Bliss family: writer David Bliss, his wife Judith, who has recently retired from the stage (except nobody seems to have told her) and their two grown up children, Sorel and Simon. It turns out that each of them has invited a guest for the weekend. 01244 322674

MATTHEW BOURNE’S EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (The Lowry, Salford Quays until Nov 22)

Based on the classic Tim Burton film, the touching gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by a lonely inventor who dies leaving him unfinished. With scissors for hands, Edward struggles to find a place in the strange suburban world outside. 0870 787 5788

INDEPENDENT MEANS (Manchester Library until Nov 22)

As a tribute to the centenary of Annie Horniman’s company at the Gaiety Theatre on Peter Street, the Library presents a comedic gem from Stanley Houghton, one of the leading members of the Manchester School of famous playwrights of the 20th century. Edgar Forsyth, public school educated son of a respected northern gent, returns early from his honeymoon with wife Sidney. His father’s business is not providing the income it once did – which gives Sidney the chance to become the family breadwinner – a ground-breaking concept when it was first created in 1909. 0161 236 7110

CAN’T SMILE WITHOUT YOU (Stoke Regent until Nov 22)

The hit songs of Barry Manilow form the basis for this stage musical about a budding pop star whose brush with tragedy leaves him fighting for his life. His only hope lies in the power of the music he loves and his feelings for a girl he once knew named Mandy. Fomer chart-topper Chesney Hawkes heads the cast. 0870 060 6649.

FOOTLOOSE (Manchester Opera House until Nov 22)

The hit musical based on the iconic 80s movie comes to Liverpool with a cast that includes Maureen Nolan of The Nolan Sisters. City boy Ren has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. Breaking every taboo in the book, Ren is determined to bring dance back to the heart of a town held back by the memory of a tragedy. 0844 847 2484

KING LEAR (Liverpool Everyman until Nov 29)

Undoubtedly one of the theatrical highlights of the year is the prospect of seeing award-winning actor Pete Postlethwaite take on one of the truly great Shakespearean roles in the intimate and intense environment of the Everyman. Directed by Rupert Goold, this production sees Postlethwaite return to the theatre where he enjoyed his first major breakthrough. 0151 7094776

FIREFLIES (The Lowry, Salford Quays until Nov 29)

This sober new multi-media production tells the stories of Leigh and Nelson, two characters in a crisis on a Salford housing estate. It is written by Kevin Fegan and directed by Noreen Kershaw of Shameless fame. It 0870 787 5788

THE DRAWER BOY (Emlyn Williams Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold until Nov 29)

A young actor arrives at a small farm where he meets two middle-aged farmers with a moving story. When he decides to incorporate that story into a play, all their lives are transformed as buried secrets of love and tragedy emerge. Michael Healey’s play was first performed in Toronto in 1999. 0845 330 3565

A TASTE OF HONEY (Manchester Royal Exchange until Dec 6)

50th anniversary production of Shelagh Delaney’s iconic northern drama, starring Sally Lindsay of Coronation Street fame. The play chronicles the life of adolescent Jo and her relationships with those about her. These include irresponsible, roving mother Helen and her newly acquired drunken husband, the black sailor who leaves her pregnant and Geoff, the homosexual art student who moves in to help with the baby. 0161 833 9833