Lenny Henry to go pop at Grand

The comic leads us through his life via the medium of the tunes he loves - and he even plays the piano, having recently passed his Grade 4 piano exams.

Henry has a soft spot for our city. Now working towards his masters degree in literature, he first returned to education at Preston College, studying while on summer season in Blackpool in the first flush of his fame.

He wrote Pop Life with long term collaborator Kim Fuller who worked with Lenny on Three Of A Kind, The Lenny Henry Show and Saturday Night Live. He is at Lancaster Grand this Sunday before moving on Burnley Mechanics on Monday. Lancaster box office: 01524 646 95, Burnley box office: 01282 664 400.

Treasure Island hoists its Jolly Roger over Preston Charter Theatre on Monday afternoon.

This a half-term treat for youngsters stars Jassa Ahluwalia from Disney’s Art Attack as Jim Hawkins. When Jim discovers a secret treasure map an exciting story starts to unfold. Box Office 0845 344 2012 or www.prestonguildhall.com

Lancaster Dukes Theatre offers a unique autumn evening out this week.

The theatre is staging A Phoenix From The Ashes, illuminating a stretch of the canal through the city centre with a series of installations, audio and visual displays, light projections and music.

The free event, commissioned by the Canal and River Trust, celebrates the newly-refurbished Aqueduct, and is produced by The Dukes. It’s hoped it could all lead to a more extravagant production next year.

The stretch of the canal from Moor Lane, up the hill from the Lancaster theatre, to the Water Witch pub will reveal an animated story of what the waterway means to the city, its heritage and people.

Turn up at any time from 8 to 9.30pm at the Moor Lane entrance of the canal. The stroll takes 15 to 20 minutes. Lights go down at 10pm but the free live music and family friendly events continue at the Water Witch. More information on 01524 598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org