What's On In Stoke-On-Trent And Staffordshire

THEATRE: Two former Coronation Street stars will be appearing in this year's Stafford Festival Shakespeare production Twelfth Night when it opens tonight at Stafford Castle. Jenny Platt is cast as Viola, and Eric Potts as Sir Toby Belch, in the professional production, which will run open-air until Saturday, July 11. Call the box office on 01785 254653.

THEATRE: Bryony Lavery's adaptation of Magdalen King-Hall's action adventure The Wicked Lady will be the next professional production to open at the New Vic Theatre in Basford this summer. The plot focuses on the tale of Lady Barbara Skelton, a beautiful but evil woman who has been forced into a marriage to a man she can't love. Runs until Saturday, July 25. Call the box office on 01782 717962.

CHILDREN'S: As West Side Story continues its run at The Regent Theatre on Saturday, tickets are already on sale for its forthcoming children's show, The BFG, based on Roald Dahl's tale about the Big Friendly Giant who takes little orphan Sophie on adventures beyond her wildest dreams. The David Wood stage adaptation can be seen in Hanley from Tuesday, July 14, to Saturday, July 18. Call the box office on 0870 060 6649.

MUSIC: Trentham Music Festival continues at Trentham Estate on Saturday night with a performance by The Wize Guys, an all-male jazz and swing band, from 7pm. Tickets are available on the day and cost £7 per adult, and £5.50 per child. For tickets and further information, call 01782 646646.

CINEMA: Synecdoche, New York (15) is the directorial debut of Charlie Kaufman, the Oscar-winning writer of Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, screening at Stoke Film Theatre tomorrow night and on Saturday. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Caden Cotard, a struggling theatre director drawn into his own play as it takes on increasingly farcical scales of grandeur and complication. Starts 7.45pm. Call 01782 411188.