If your little darlings are desperate to set foot on the stage, their luck‘s in because The Theatre Chipping Norton is looking for children to star in Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.

12 young actors, or Pippins as they are known there, aged eight to 14 are needed to make up three teams as part of the company’s professional actors over Christmas.

Auditions will be held at The Theatre today from 4.30pm. Contact the Box Office to let them know you're coming on 01608 642350.

If puppets are more your thing then Tales of Our Fathers is a puppetry-led fairytale for children over seven at BTT tomorrow and Saturday, in which puppeteer Steve Tiplady tells the magical story of a father’s life. Box office on 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com.

Kids will also enjoy Vue’s screening of Thomas and Friends: Day of the Diesels and a collection of Postman Pat’s best deliveries to celebrate the character’s 30th birthday this weekend. Visit www.myvue.com.

Under sixes will also enjoy Mr Mark's Children's Concert: Violin, tomorrow at Chippy.

Now for the grown-up’s. Pencil in Speechless, a powerful play based on the extraordinary true story of identical twins at The North Wall Arts Centre this weekend.

Inspired by Marjorie Wallace’s best-selling book The Silent Twins, this is a portrayal of the secret world of a special but destructive alliance. Box office on 01865 319450 or online at www.thenorthwall.com. Bang Bang Bang follows from Wednesday, going behind the public face of charities, journalists and NGOs.

If this all sounds a bit serious then get over to Chippy tomorrow to catch compere and funnyman Tony Vino who will present an unforgettable star-studded night of comedy.

Simon Callow also returns to Oxford Playhouse from Monday with two one-man plays by Charles Dickens – Dr Marigold and Mr Chops. Box office on 01865 305305 or book online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com Simon Callow will also be visiting Waterstone's Oxford on Tuesday at 5pm to sign copies of his alternative autobiography My Life In Pieces.

The UK premiere of Happy As Larry will be at Oxford Playhouse tomorrow and on Saturday, an investigation into what makes us happy, featuring an ensemble of nine performers using all kinds of dance styles.

Finally, Oxford-based Idle Motion returns to Pegasus tomorrow and Saturday with its stunning new show The Seagull Effect, set during the British hurricanes of the 1980s. Set in 1987, a couple’s relationship crumbles as Britain is hit by an unexpected storm. Box Office 01865 812150.