5 things to do in Hemel and beyond

1Childen’s theatre

The Tap Dancing Mermaid, Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead, 2pm and 4.30pm Saturday June 3

Marina, The Moon and a bunch of beautiful hand crafted mer-puppets are swimming their way to Hemel for an innovative and exciting new one-woman show. The Moon has got a story to tell about a tippetty-top tap dancer who he has been watching. Marina Skippett creeps out at night to tap dance on the boardwalk to the sounds of the sea. She can’t tap dance at home anymore since her evil aunt banned it, threatening to feed Marina’s dinners to the dog! But then one magical night Marina meets a mysterious watery boy swimming alone and her life is never the same again. This show for mer-boys and mer-girls aged three years and upwards feature stunning puppets, original live music and tap dancing. Tickets £6.50, Dacorum Card £5, available from the box office on 01442 228091 between noon and 5.30pm on weekdays. Or book online.

www.oldtownhall.co.uk

2Musical theatre

Hairspray Jr, The Court Theatre, Tring, 6pm Saturday June 3

The Hayley Otway Theatre (HOT) Academy presents its debut full scale musical with this family friendly musical, piled bouffant high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. Spunky plus size teen Tracy Turnbald has one big dream - to dance on the Corny Collins Show. When she finally gets her shot, she’s transformed from social outcast to sudden star. In balancing her newfound power with her desire for justice, Tracy fights to dethrone the reigning Miss teen Hairspray and integrate a television network in the process. Who knows? Tracy’s new beat just might prove unstoppable. The cast is made up of talented students all aged under 18. Tickets £10 - £15 available from 07543 560478 and from Beechwood Fine Foods in Frogmore Street, Tring.

www.courttheatre.co.uk

3Theatre

A Judgement in Stone, Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury, 7.30pm now through to Saturday June 3, matineeds at 2.30pm tomorrow (Thursday) and Saturday

A star cast performs Ruth Rendell’s classic thriller with a plot that unravels a lifetime of deceit, despair and cover ups which, when revealed, brings a shocking revelation almost as grizzly as the murder itself.. Eunice struggles to fit in. When she joins a wealthy family as their housekeeper, the very reason for her awkwardness, long hidden and deeply buried, leads inexorably to a terrible tale of murder in cold blood - on Valentine’s Day. The star cast includes Andrew Lancel from Coronation Street and The Bill, Sophie Ward, Antony Costa, Ben Nealon, Deborah Grant and Shirley Anne Field. Tickets from £14.40. Box office 0844 871 7607.

www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

4Comedy

All-Star Stand-Up Tour. Grove Theatre, Dunstable, 8pm Saturday June 3.

Ivan Brackenbury, star of BBC1’s Hospital People, is joined by Andrew Lawrence, Ben Norris and David Morgan. Age 15+ Tickets £20.

www.grovetheatre.co.uk

5Children’s theatre

Mister Maker and the Shapes Live, Grove Theatre, Dunstable, 1pm and 4pm tomorrow (Thursday)

Join CBeebies Mister Maker in his hit live theatre tour. Tickets £14.50 and £11

www.grovetheatre.co.uk