... Sean Lock Assembly Rooms He starts off his set with an act of baldness prevention. He places his palm over on his forehead. We are suitably introduced to the surreal world of Sean Lock. In a brown, open-collared suit retro, but dapper Lock wanders through his script so effortlessly as if he has just thought of the gags. Alcohol for children. Covering the cat in Rizlas. Do dogs think in barks? ...

... Whacked! Gilded Balloon Interspersed with film footage and banging music, Sarah McGuiness' performance as Annie, ex-girlfriend of a gangster, struggles against a difficult script ridden with cliches. Tony Thompson's monologue relies on all the things EastEnders would inform us are true of gang ster lifestyles: drugs, sex, gangs, guns, are all present in varying amounts. Thompson does not ...

... Zelle- The Final Hours of Mata Hari The Garage Adriana Aja Jung of Belgrade City Ballet gives a virtuoso solo performance evoking the moods and memories of Mata Hari, exotic dancer and celebrated spy, awaiting death in a Paris prison. Her carefully crafted and highly sensitive dance and movement display a most impressive choreo graphic range, under the direction of Mila Sevic, perfectly ...

... Gaiety Whirl 2000 Ayr This year's resident summer show at the Gaiety Theatre has a reduced season and features only six performers. However, the production has much to commend it. Its extrava gance is probably the onstage musical ensemble which provides accompaniment, the splendid seven-piece Irvin Duguid Big Band with Irvin Duguid as musical director and on keyboards, Ed McFartane on bass, ...

... Hale and Pace Blackpool There is a double irony that after 20 years together Hale and Pace are performing their first ever summer season- and that as far as a lot of their North Pier audiences are concerned they are still new boys. Although their roots are in live performances it is from televi sion they are better known. But on stage they are as classy and classic a double act as you will see ...

... KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler Pizza on the Park Tired of Gershwin? Then rush to the Music Room where American cabaret performers KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler are presenting American Rhapsody- this show will rejuvenate the most iaded palate. Following Nadler's Piano Prelude I, Sullivan's disembodied voice is heard singing Fascinating Rhythm. When she arrives onstage stunning in black dress and boa ...

... Graft -Tales of an Actor Komedia @ Southside Bit of a conundrum here. Anything Steven Berkoff writes comes with a built-in blueprint that moulds the aspiring performer unto his likeness. Any hint of innovation can provoke an inevitably terminal case of no-play. George Dillon has embraced the great man's one-man travel ogue into the infenal underbelly of a fading actor's life, and his Faustian ...

... No 2 Assembly Rooms What can I say? It is a world of many tastes but if you gave me just one show to see this year, Madeleine Sami in No 2 is it. Penned by Toa Fraser, this is a majestically observed minnepic that kicks off at 4am in a Fijian New Zealand suburb. A crotchety grandmother has just roused her unruly progeny to prepare a feast so she can nominate her successor before abandoning ...

... Addy Borgh Pleasance Sometimes I just can't be both ered to get up in the morning, says Addy Borgh, ruminating on what he might say if he were asked about his negative points in a job interview. Well, it is unlikely to get him a nine to five job, but on stage he can use his laid-back 'I used to smoke a lot of dope' charm to pretty decent effect. He is quite an engaging performer who relies ...

... Swinging its way to success Scotland Yard Playground Decky Does a Bronco Grid Iron Theatre Company's productions always 'do a Bronco'- they are dangerous, exhilarating and absolutely brilliant to watch when they get it right. Broncoing a swing park stunt where you jump off a high, fast swing and kick the seat over the bar as you land is at the heart of this wonderful new play by Douglas ...

... Cambridge Footlights: Sensible Haircut Pleasance Matt Green as a performer was the bright spot in otherwise unmemo- rable shows last year and the one before that. As Footlights president, he directs this year's, but is nowhere to be seen, which is a pity. This is a whimsical rambling affair, with the men in fifties gear, about a sweetshop, assertiveness training, authors and their readers, and ...

... Fantasia- A Clown Show c The concept, though not original, certainly has a ready potential for comedy. Faced with the non- appearance of the actors for a show, two theatre ushers improvise entertainment for the audience until hopefully the cast arrive, which never happens. Swedish clown Jonas Sodergren and Hong Kong actress Ka-Lee Ho, youthful members of the inter national Players Ensemble, ...