• Dame Nature: The Magnificent Bearded Lady, Mercury Studio Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, until tomorrow, 8pm. £13.50 plus concessions. 01206 573948.

THIS is Tim Bell's first show for his new Norfolk-based theatre company, Havoc.

Placing particular emphasis on promoting an East Anglian theatre landscape, Dame Nature is his solo show about a bearded lady who has been looking after her facial furniture for as long as she can remember.

Once the star of the show, she now spends her days in the depths of her dressing room contemplating the fading roar of the crowd, lost love and the merits of Phil Collins’ solo work.

  • SlackFolk, Piatto Café, Priory Walk, Colchester, tomorrow, 2pm to 4.15pm. Admission Free.

THIS month Colchester's platform for acoustic solo artists, bands and poets will include sets by Yael Bebb, a singer who performs a mixture of traditional folk from the British Isles and beyond on accordion and whistles, Trevor Attwater from Romford, who sings blues and traditional and contemporary folk interspersed with pop, and Violet’s Bunch with their own special blend of folk, pop and jazz.

Poetry comes courtesy of J S Watts from Cambridge.

  • 24 Snapshots of Bikes, The Octagon Gallery, Middleborough, Colchester, until March 31, from 8am to 6pm. Free. 01206 573931.

The photographic exhibition dedicated to the relationship between mankind and the bicycle makes a welcome return to Colchester.

Located in the bridge of the office block, it has been curated by Vincenzo De Leonardis, artistic director of Italian Cultural Association, Aeneis Duemila, with the help of the Tiptree Twinning Association and Sue Allen-Shepherd, Chris Farndell and Chris Clarke.

As well as pictures taken by photographers all over the world, this year there is a local photograph by Andy Brooke included in the 24 selected.

  • Shunted Again! Steve Gribbin's Real Story of the Railways, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, tomorrow, doors 7.30pm. £12, £10 concessions. 01206 500900.

A MIXTURE of stand-up, songs and train announcements, veteran train traveller and highly experienced stand-up comedian Steve Gribbin rails against the current state of Britain’s Railway system, using his very worst journeys as examples.

Steve takes the audience on a (de)tour of cancellations, delays and overcrowding that’s enough to drive you to, well, drive. It’s the antidote to Michael Portillo.

  • Thought Forms, Aithur, Bosch, Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Sunday, doors 7.30pm. £7, £6 concessions. 01206 500900.

COMPARED to the likes of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine, post rock band, Thought Forms cross a number of different musical genres from American garage rock to ethereal psychedelia.

Signed to Geoff Barrow, of Portishead fame, record label, they've toured with the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs, and Thurston Moore's Chelsea Light Moving as well as appeared at festivals such as All Tomorrow's Parties and Supersonic.