Strange as it may seem not all of this autumn's hottest cultural tickets are to be found in Norwich — or even in Norfolk. SIMON PARKIN previews upcoming events that make a trip over the border to Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, or even Ipswich, worth it.

IPSWICH

Theatre

Jack Sheppard

New Wosley Theatre, October 18-22, �7 (�5 cons), 01473 295900, www.wosleytheatre.co.uk

Meet The Thief-Taker General, Daniel Defoe, Dribbling Wilf, The Incredible Porty McFigg, Edgeworth Bess and Blueskin Blake – just some of the many characters that can only go to make up the cast of Jack Sheppard – and a true story it is too! Ken Campbell's rollicking tale of treachery and dastardly deeds is an anarchic comedy romp through a fascinating but little known part of our history.

Theatre

Taruffe

New Wosley Theatre, October 25-29, �25-�8.50, 01473 295900, www.wosleytheatre.co.uk

Master of wit Roger McGough dips his magic quill, adapting Moli�re's sublime comedy. Tartuffe is a beacon of piety and has his feet firmly under the table in the home of wealthy merchant, Orgon. But is he friend, fraud, miracle or hypocrite? Directed by Gemma Bodinez, this scathingly funny production follows the hilarious joint produc-tion of Roger McGough's version of Moli�re's The Hypochondriac in 2009.

Music

Will Young

Ipswich Regent, November 4, returns only, 01473 433100, www.online.ipswich.gov.uk

The multi-platinum singer returns to the region to promote his latest album Echoes. Believe it or not, it's a decade since Will's first audition for Pop Idol. Echoes is the follow up to his bestselling Hits collection and is his fifth studio album in a career spawning over eight million sales (and counting) so far, proving that its possible to have long lasting success beyond the TV talent show. He's also at Cambridge Corn Exchange on November 18.

Theatre

Calendar Girls

Ipswich Regent, November 7-12, �23.50-�9.50, 01473 433100, www.online.ipswich.gov.uk

The hugely popular show, which has triumphed everywhere from the West End to Hollywood — not to mention two hugely successful runs at Norwich Theatre Royal, returns to the region as part of its final ever tour. The cast shedding clothes include Lynda Bellingham, Debbie Chazen, Camilla Dallerup, Jennifer Ellison, Jan Harvey, Rula Lenska, June Watson and Ruth Madoc with Bruno Langley as Lawrence the photographer.

Music

Bellowhead

Ipswich Corn Exchange, November 10, �21.50, 01473 433100, www.online.ipswich.gov.uk

From the wild, rousing dance tunes to the theatricality of their ballads and sea songs this is a band that are also funny, subtle and always engaging. Winners of the Best Live Band at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards five times, the 11-piece collective mix music from around the globe with more than a dash of music hall and yet retain, at their core, a passion for English traditional music. They'll also be at Cambridge Corn Exchange on November 14.

Music

Rumer

Ipswich Regent, November 16, �32.50/�25, 01473 433100, www.online.ipswich.gov.uk

Radio 2 favourite Rumer stops off at the Regent as part of her biggest UK tour to date. The Anglo-Pakistani singer and songwriter has built up an extensive live following and her debut album, Seasons Of My Soul, has garnered significant critical acclaim, and sold over half a million copies in the UK alone.

Comedy

Stephen Merchant

Ipswich Regent, November 17/18, �27/�25, 01473 433100, www.online.ipswich.gov.uk

Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe award winning co-creator of The Office and Extras, Stephen Merchant follows in the stand-up footsteps of his mate Ricky Gervais. It's not widely known that the lanky Bristolian started his career as a stand-up comedian before meeting Gervais and turning to radio and TV, so this is a return to his roots. Has he still got it in front of the mic without his famous sidekick? You can also see him at Cambridge Corn Ex-change on November 6.

Comedy

Bill Bailey

Ipswich Regent, November 23, �29.50, 01473 433100, www.online.ipswich.gov.uk

Following a sell-out West End run and numerous arenas dates, this is a rare theatre sized show for the comic and musician. His latest show Dandelion Mind features his trademark musical interludes, observations and stories of the road. Beginning with his real-life saga of being trapped by the ash cloud, its based loosely on the theme of doubt (or will it?) and may feature some Wurzels-based remixes of classic German techno.

Dance

Boy Blue Entertainment

Jerwood Dance House, December 14-24, �12 (�6 cons), 01728 687110, www.danceeast.co.uk

A real pre-Christmas treat of the best cutting edge hip hop dance to date, in celebration of Boy Blue Entertainment's 10th anniversary year. Led by Kenrick 'H20' Sandy and Michael 'Mikey J' Asante, Boy Blue are an Olivier Award-winning hip hop dance theatre company, will again be pushing street dance to its limits.

CAMBRIDGE

Photography

Hot Shots

Byard Art, King's Parade, until October 2, free admission, 01223 464646, www.byardart.co.uk

Hot Shots features work by five photographers. Richard Heeps' subject matter ranges from rockabilly culture to the eerie beauty of the Fens. Noel Myles creates original landscape photographs by assembling dozens of abutted negatives. David Rhys Jones has produced a combination of filmstrip plaques and larger pieces from his series A Bloomsbury Journey. David Anthony Hall produces massive, panoramic landscapes. By contrast, Lin Osborn uses a series of small detailed photos to create her original artworks.

Art

Vermeer's Women: Secrets and Silence

Mellon Gallery, Fitzwilliam Museum, from October 5, free admission, www.fitzwilliam.cam.ac.uk

The astonishing intimacy of interior scenes by Johannes Vermeer and his 17th century contemporaries will be ex-plored in this exhibition. At the heart of the exhibition will be Vermeer's extraordinary painting The Lacemaker - one of the Mus�e du Louvre's most famous works, rarely seen outside Paris and now on loan to the UK for the first time.

Theatre

Void Story

Junction, October 18/19, �12 (�8 cons), 01223 511511, www.junction.co.uk

One of the UK's most brilliant experimental theatre companies, Forced Entertainment will be performing this bleak and comical modern fable as if it were a radio play, sitting at tables, turning the pages of the script, 'doing' the requisite voices and adding in sound effects. Simultaneously the stage is dominated by a series of projected images, a storyboard for an impossible movie-version of Tim Etchells' unsettling text.

Cabaret

Salon Rouge

Junction, October 22, �12.50, 01223 511511, www.junction.co.uk

Cambridge's cabaret night extraordinaire Salon Rouge returns with Empress Stah and Cherry Shakewell plus all the regular Salon Rouge starlets. Expect an eclectic mix of music from the 40s, 50s and present day and all manner of weird and wacky goings-on. Dress code is burlesque and vintage, which makes for an interesting drive down the A11.

Theatre

Grief

Cambridge Arts Theatre, November 1-5, �30-�15, 01223 503333, www.cambridgeartstheater.com

As part of a limited tour the National Theatre bring this specially commissioned new play by Mike Leigh to Cambridge for one week only following a sold-out run in London. In his unique collaborative way, Leigh has worked with a company of actors, including being re-united with Lesley Manville – his most frequent collaborator – and with regulars Marion Bailey, Sam Kelly and Wendy Nottingham.

Music

Friendly Fires

Cambridge Corn Exchange, November 21, �16, 01223 357851, www.cornex.co.uk

The St Alban's indie-dance trio pay a visit to region still plugging their exciting sophomore album Pala; a record packed with senseless beauty, hook-filled spontaneity and sheer energy combining to become a refreshing, dance-laden soundtrack. Catch them now, before they'll too big for venues like this.

Classical

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Cambridge Corn Exchange, December 2, �29-�10, 01223 357851, www.cornex.co.uk

As part of the Cambridge Classical Concert Season, and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Corn Exchange, the Royal Phil returns for a concert that will include Vaughan Williams' elegiac Fantasia On A Theme by Thomas Tallis. In the second half Benjamin Pope will conduct Dvorak's greatest symphony, his No.9 known as 'the New World', made famous by Hovis Bread

Comedy

Sarah Millican

Cambridge Corn Exchange, October 18, �20, 01223 357851, www.cornex.co.uk

After selling out all 120 dates on her debut our, Sarah Millican is back in the region with a new show. If you've ever wondered how to make a home made treadmill, the practicalities of an orgy, or what to do when you don't like parties but do like party food, this is for you.

Music

Wild Beasts

Junction, November 25, �13, 01223 511511, www.junction.co.uk

After a summer long trek through Europe's festivals, this is the only date in this region on a 12 date tour will see the Kendal four-piece who will performing tracks from their fantastic third album Smother.

BURY ST EDMUNDS

Theatre

Those Magnificent Men

Theatre Royal, October 13/14, �24-�8.50, 01284 769505, www.theatreroyal.org

Chock away for this heart-stopping story of Alcock and Brown and the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight. By any standards, its a classic tale of plucky British pioneers, Capt John Alcock, dashing First World War fighter pilot, and Lieu Arthur Whittam Brown, navigational genius with a gammy leg. The dashing tale is told by just two actors and a crate full of funny props.

Theatre

Our Country's Good

Theatre Royal, October 18-22, �16-�5, 01284 769505, www.theatreroyal.org

Based on real events that occurred in Australia in the 1780's, Timberlake Wertenkbaker's play is set in the first penal colony where the convicts put on a production of the Restoration comedy The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar. It's a thought provoking examination of class, sexuality, Georgain punishment and the civilising influ-ence that theatre had on live then, as now.

Dance

The Snow Queen

Theatre Royal, November 14-16, �24.60-�8.50, 01284 769505, www.theatreroyal.org

Ballet Theatre's beautiful re-telling of Hans Christian Anderson's classic fairytale ballet. This spectacular produc-tion follows the story of Gera and her quest to find her friend Kay, whom the Snow Queen placed under an evil spell. Gerda's fantastic adventure takes her on a journey across the frozen north where she encounters a band of gypsies, enchanted reindeer and a mysterious and reclusive Lapland woman.

ALDEBURGH

Dance

Rafael Bonachela Double Bill

Concert Hall, Snape Maltings, November 18/19, �24-�12, 01728 687110, www.aldeburgh.co.uk

For the first time since his appointment as artistic director, Rafael Bonachela will bring his new company Sydney Dance Company to Snape Maltings, to present a double bill of UK premieres. 6 Breaths is inspired by the act of breathing, while LANDforms is a stirring exploration of the effects of weather elements upon the landscape and humanity. Both pieces are set to newly commissioned scores by Italian composer Ezio Bosso.

Classical

Albert Herring

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, October 19-23, �24-�14, under-017s half price, 01728 687110, www.aldeburgh.co.uk

Set in an East Suffolk village not a million miles from Snape, Britten's one comic opera opens with the search for a virtuous girl to become Loxford's May Queen. Some hope – the impossibility results instead in the election of a boy of unquestionable chastity – Albert Herring. Directed by rising young British director Oliver Mears, the pro-duction is part of the annual Britten weekend and will feature a young international cast.

Music

First Night/TEDx

Snape Maltings, November 4/5, �20, under-017s half price, 01728 687110, www.aldeburgh.co.uk

Thomas Dolby, the 1980s chart star and Suffolk-based music director of TED, the global movement founded to disseminate 'ideas worth spreading', chairs an event that will feature talks, performances and discussions from groundbreaking guests and explorers of contemporary music. On November 4, Dolby will also launching his first studio album in nearly 20 years.