Hamlet - Lighthouse, Poole. JAPANESE director Yukio Ninagawa's celebrated new production of Shakespeare's Hamlet has been thrilling audiences in Poole this week. The famously dark tale of murder, madness and revenge is in excellent hands. Featuring Michael Maloney in the title role, this must-see production runs at Lighthouse until Saturday (October 23). Telephone 01202 685222.

The Play What I Wrote - The Mayflower, Southampton Following its triumphant run in London's West End, this theatrical celebration of Britain's greatest comedy double act is out on the road and playing The Mayflower. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, The Play What I Wrote looks at the genius of Morecambe and Wise and also offers a surprise guest celebrity every night. The show opened in Southampton on Monday October 18 and runs until Saturday (October 23). Telephone 023 8071 1818.

Throat - The Nuffield Theatre, Southampton A witty and sexy synthesis of circus, physical comedy and cabaret, Throat addresses masculine identity and the need to be loved with the aid of physical grace, comic talent and a load of flour and water. The show opened on Thursday and runs until Saturday (October 23).Telephone 023 8067 1771.

The Hound of the Baskervilles - Salisbury Playhouse The latest stage version of that ever popular Sherlock Holmes adventure the Hound of The Baskervilles completes a popular run in Salisbury tomorrow (October 23). The drama was adapted from Conan Doyle's spine-tingling melodrama by Clive Francis,. Telephone 01722 320333.

The Vagina Monologues - Salisbury City Hall . Eve Ensler's sometimes hilarious , sometimes poignant study of female sexuality The Vagina Monologues - a big hit at the Pavilion in Bournemouth last week -- arrives in Salisbury on Friday and Saturday (October 22 and 23) Based on interviews with a hugely diverse group of women - from a Long Island antiques dealer to a Bosnian refugee - it explores humour, power, pain outrage and excitement. Sarah Greene, Kim Appleby and Lucy Speed are the latest trio of actresses and entertainers to take the stage in this long-running work. Telephone 01722 327676.

CADArts Performing Arts Festival - Regent Centre, Christchurch. The winners of the open and youth classes of the festival's three main disciplines - music, dance and drama join forces for a gala concert at the Regent Centre. They will also be competing for the Townend Trophy. Telephone 01202 499148.

All In The Timing - Forest Arts Centre, New Milton There's madcap stage comedy at the Forest Arts Centre on Saturday (October 23) when touring theatre company Peepolykus bring their latest play All In The Timing to New Milton. Telephone 01425 612393.

Laughing Gravy - Dorchester Arts Centre The Zenith Theatre Company bring Laughing Gravy, their new play about that great comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to Dorchester on Friday (October 22). A funny and poignant story based on the real life dramas behind the laughs. Telephone 01305 266926.

Katie Melua - Bournemouth International Centre SINCE being fast-tracked from obscurity to fame after being discovered by one-time Womble Mike Batt last year, brilliant young music student turned international singer Katie Melua has travelled the world playing the USA, Australia, the Far East and Europe. On October 23 she returns to Bournemouth - the scene of one of her early triumphant concerts - for a show at the town's International Centre. Telephone 0870 111 3000.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra - Lighthouse. Poole. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra are reunited on Wednesday (October 27) with their award winning American principal conductor Marin Alsop who conducts a performance of music by her mentor Leonard Bernstein and Tchaiikovsky's Symphony No 5. Violinist Philippe Quint is the soloist. The programme will be repeated in Exeter on Thursday (October 28) and at Portsmouth on Friday (Oct 29). Telephone 01202 685222.

Chris De Burgh - The Bournemouth International Centre Singer songwriter Chris De Burgh found stratospheric fame back in the 80s when Lady In Red (memorably Fergie's favourite song) made him a household name overnight. And even though he's more famous these days for being Miss World's dad, he's not done badly since either. Sunday night's show by the diminutive Irishman will be certain to be packed with ladies of a certain age who find his bristly eyebrows irresistible. Telephone 0870 111 3000.

The Counterfeit Stones - The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Nick Dagger and the boys are back as The Counterfeit Stones hilarious Get Yer Doo Dahs Out tour rolls into Wimborne on Saturday (October 23). 01202 885566.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac - The Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth Tribute band Rumours of Fleetwood Mac take the stage on Friday (October 22) and dip into the impressive and varied back catalogue of the British blues band that suddenly turned into well-heeled West Coast Rockers. The Mac's original bass player Bob Brunning, a one-time Bournemouth musician who played with the likes of local "legends" Tony Blackburn and Al Stewart back in 1960s, steps in to help out. Telephone 0870 111 3000.

Glenn Miller Centenary Tribute - The Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth Nostalgia rules as the Syd Lawrence Orchestra arrive in town on Saturday (October 23) to celebrate the centenary of swing king Glenn Miller. The American bandleader's extraordinary career was cut tragically short when he was lost on a mission over the English Channel during World War II. Telephone 0870 111 3000

Michael Thompson - The Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton Acclaimed principal Horn with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Michael Thompson, performs with some of the finest musicians around during the British Horn Society Conference. Telephone 023 8059 5151.

Arco Strings - Beaulieu Abbey Church. Recently formed by some of Britain's finest string players The Arco Strings give a performance at Beaulieu on Saturday (October 23). Telephone 01590 675268.

Beach Boys Inc: Mr Kyps, Lower Parkstone. Surfs up at Kyps tonight (Fri Oct 22) as tribute band Beach Boys Inc run through all the big hits plus a selection from Pet Sounds. Sure to make you smile! Tomorrow (Saturday Oct 23) offers a tribute of a different kind when Who's Who take the stage and on Sunday it's the turn of Larry Grayson's old Generation Game sidekick Isla St Clair who will arrive guitar in hand to remind everyone that she was a folk singer long before she aspired to read scores on doors. Telephone 01202 748945.